You Won't Believe How Much Exercise It Takes to Get 'Substantial' Heart Protection

Key Points:

• A new study from Macao Polytechnic University and collaborators suggests that about 10 hours of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week is needed to significantly reduce cardiovascular disease risk by 30%, which is much higher than the current guideline of 150 minutes weekly.
• The research analyzed data from roughly 17,000 middle-aged UK residents wearing accelerometers, finding that while 150 minutes of exercise per week lowers heart disease risk by 8-9%, substantially greater benefits require three to four times more activity.
• The study also found that less fit individuals need to exercise more than fitter people to achieve the same cardiovascular protection, highlighting variability in exercise response among individuals.
• Despite these findings, the study is observational and cannot prove causation, and the authors acknowledge that the current 150-minute recommendation still provides meaningful health benefits.
• Only about 12% of participants met the higher exercise threshold, suggesting that while increased activity may offer greater protection, the existing guidelines remain a practical and beneficial target for most people.