Short Exercise

Recent research suggests that brief bursts of physical activity, often referred to as "exercise snacks," can effectively enhance the cardiorespiratory health of adults who are largely inactive. Published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, this study synthesizes data from 11 clinical trials involving 414 sedentary individuals from various countries, including Australia, Canada, China, and the UK. The findings indicate that performing short, moderate to vigorous exercise bouts—lasting five minutes or less—at least twice daily, several times a week, over a period of 4 to 12 weeks, can significantly improve aerobic capacity.

Exercise snacks primarily consisted of stair climbing and leg strength exercises, with older adults engaging more in tai chi and similar activities. Remarkably, adherence to these short bouts of activity was high, with 91% compliance and 83% of participants able to maintain the routine, highlighting its practicality in real-world settings.

Despite some limitations, such as varied study designs and small participant numbers, the evidence supports that implementing these quick exercise intervals can help overcome common barriers like lack of time and motivation, often cited as reasons for not meeting physical activity guidelines. Although the intervention did not significantly influence muscular endurance or cardiometabolic factors like blood pressure or body fat, its high compliance rate underscores its potential as a scalable, accessible way to promote regular physical activity and improve health outcomes.

Researchers emphasize that the simple, time-efficient nature of exercise snacks could enhance adherence to physical activity routines, making it easier for busy individuals to incorporate regular movement into their daily lives. This approach holds promise for addressing widespread physical inactivity and its associated health risks.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-snacks-boost-cardiorespiratory-physically-inactive.html