LONDON, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Although doing moderate or more intense activity has been shown to bring greater benefits, light intensity physical activity is associated with lower risk of death as well, according to a study released Tuesday by the University College London (UCL).
In this study, the UCL-led team used body-worn activity monitors to find out how different level of activity affect older men's health in Britain.
Current exercise guidelines recommend accumulating at least 150 minutes a week of moderate to vigorous physical activity in bouts lasting at least 10 minutes. However, the latest results showed that each additional 30 minutes a day of light intensity activity was associated with a 17 percent reduction in the risk of death, and there were still benefits even after accounting for potentially influential lifestyle factors and social background.
Light activities could include for example gentle walking or light gardening such as watering and tending pot plants, according to the study.
The results suggest that all activities, however modest, are beneficial, said Dr Barbara Jefferis from UCL.
"Hence older men who can't manage the moderate intensity activities that get the heart pumping harder shouldn't be put off being active; they can still gain important benefits from light activity," Dr Jefferis added.
