Short Bursts of Intense Exercise Or HIIT May be More Beneficial

Researchers have been working for over a decade to research the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT).

Shorter bouts of intense exercise may produce more health benefits than hours of moderate-level physical activity, according to a study.

Experts have long agreed that adults should aim for roughly 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week, said researchers from the Arizona State University (ASU) in the US.

When the guidelines were first published in 2008, it was thought that in order to obtain meaningful health benefits, those 150 minutes had to be accrued in bouts of at least 30 minutes of activity at a time, they said.

The researchers have been working together for over a decade to research the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) – characterised by short bursts of intense activity – on various health outcomes.