Desk Jockeys Need Moderate to Vigorous Exercise

Exercise won't save us alone. More Americans are sitting for longer periods of time than at any other point in history. To counter balance all of this lethargic activity is the need to beef up our fitness routines more than what might be expected. According to a Norwegian study in the Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise that regular exercise doesn't cut it anymore.

The study highlights that only moderate to vigorous exercise may help for those who sit at their jobs for long periods of time. Based on a study of 12,274 men and 14,209 women (≥20 yr) without known cardiovascular disease  who engaged in moderate to high intensity exercise received cardio vascular benefits that protected against future health events.

The study is important because a slow stroll may not be enough to really counter the lack of activity in our lives. It is important for us to start speed walking, sprinting, jogging, running, swimming, and engaging in higher cardio activities. For those of us who sit all day it is important to get your heart pumping a few times a week to get into higher levels of fitness.

Nauman, et. al. (April, 2016). Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Sedentary Time, and Cardiovascular Risk Factor Clustering.  Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 48 (4).  Retrieved http://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/Abstract/2016/04000/Cardiorespiratory_Fitness,_Sedentary_Time,_and.6.aspx