Current guidelines on physical activity may create misconceptions

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A study from the United Kingdom suggests that current recommendations on physical activity may create wrong beliefs about the benefits of different types of exercise, researchers, from the Universities of Exeter and Brunel in London, looked at the views adults have on the health benefits of physical activity.

A nationally representative sample of 1191 UK adults aged 16-65 years were asked to comment on the relative benefits associated with moderate and vigorous physical activity. Even though research supports the greater health benefits of vigorous activity over moderate activity, subjects (particularly women) were more likely to erroneously claim greater benefits with moderate activity. According to the researchers, this can be attributed to the fact that moderate activity has been the recommendation in the UK since 1995.

The authors of the study concluded there is a misconception about physical activity recommendations and suggest that the recommendations should be amended.

For more information, see
O’ Donovan G & Shave R (2007). British adults’ views on the health benefits of moderate and vigorous activity. Preventative Medicine, DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2007.07.026

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