Study Suggests Higher Weekly Exercise Target for Heart Health

New research published Tuesday recommends adults perform 560 to 610 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each week to achieve substantial reductions in cardiovascular risk. The findings come from analysis of data collected from more than 17,000 UK residents.

Current guidelines from the CDC and other health agencies recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity and two muscle-strengthening sessions per week. The new study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, suggests a weekly amount three to four times higher than that standard to reduce the risk of heart attacks and stroke.

Chinese researchers measured exercise levels and VO2 max using wrist devices worn for one week by participants, along with cycle tests and measurements of body mass index, resting heart rate, and blood pressure. Adults who met the current 150-minute recommendation experienced an 8 to 9 percent reduction in cardiovascular risk.

To achieve more than a 30 percent reduction, between 560 and 610 minutes of exercise per week is recommended, an amount reached by only 12 percent of study participants. Those with the lowest fitness levels need an additional 30 to 50 minutes per week to gain the same heart protection as those with the highest fitness levels.

A separate study found women who reached the 150-minute target had a 22 percent lower risk of coronary heart disease, compared with 17 percent for men. Women who exercised up to 250 minutes a week saw their risk cut by 30 percent, while men required up to 530 minutes for the same benefit.

The researchers noted that participants may have been fitter than the general population and that cardiorespiratory fitness was estimated.