According to a new study, working up a little sweat will help improve health.

“This study provides evidence of benefit from exercising at a level below that currently recommended in healthy sedentary adults.” says Dr. Mark A. Tully, of University of Ulster, Northern Ireland of the results of the study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

The study provided hope for the vast majority of people who don’t get the recommended 30 minutes of moderate to strenuous exercise five days a week. was enough to drive down blood pressure and improve overall fitness in a group of healthy sedentary adults.

The research found that a brisk walk of just 30 minutes three days a week helped improve overall fitness and reduce blood pressure and in a group of healthy but non-exercising adults. The results were positive changes in blood pressure and waist and hip size for both groups of walker. The changes were significant enough to lower the walkers risk of heart disease.

For the 12-week study, 106 healthy and sedentary were randomly assigned to take a brisk 30-minute walk 3 days per week or 5 days per week, while another group did not walk. The age of the participants ranged from 40 and 61 years participated in the.

After 12 weeks, Tully’s team found that blood pressure and waist and hip girth fell significantly in both the 3-day walkers and 5-day walkers. Overall fitness also increased in both walking groups. In contrast, no changes occurred in the non-walking control group.

Source
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health