Health experts are revealing subtle links between our daily habits and long-term health outcomes, highlighting the importance of understanding the various factors that affect the body and mind over time.
In this regard, a recent Chinese study showed that simply engaging in physical activity for a few minutes a day can significantly reduce the risk of developing a number of diseases, including heart, liver, lung, kidney, and dementia diseases, as well as inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and psoriasis.
The study included 96,408 participants from the UK Biobank project, who wore activity tracking devices for a full week. Researchers then compared the collected data with the probability of death or developing eight different health conditions over seven years.
The results showed that people who dedicated time to vigorous physical activity—even for short periods—were less likely to develop these diseases. For example, the risk of developing dementia decreased by 63%, while the risk of developing diabetes decreased by 60%. The researchers emphasized that these benefits persisted even with limited time spent engaging in vigorous activity.
Province said: "Intense physical activity stimulates powerful responses within the body that less intense activity cannot fully mimic. During intense exercise, the heart pumps blood more efficiently, blood vessels become more elastic, and the body's ability to use oxygen improves."
The study explained that the intensity of exercise was the most important factor in reducing the risk of inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and psoriasis, while the duration and intensity of exercise were equally important for preventing diabetes and chronic liver disease.
Professor Shen pointed out that vigorous activity can easily be incorporated into daily life without the need for a gym. He added, "Short bursts of vigorous activity, such as briskly climbing stairs, walking briskly during errands, or actively playing with children, can make a big difference. Even 15 to 20 minutes a week, or a few minutes a day, has tangible health benefits."
The UK's National Health Service (NHS) recommends that adults do 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, but the study suggests that the quality of physical activity is important, and its importance may vary depending on the disease being prevented.
The researchers cautioned that vigorous activity may not be suitable for everyone, especially the elderly or those with chronic medical conditions, stressing that any increase in movement remains beneficial if it is designed to suit each individual's ability.
