Walking and jogging, if you do this daily, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke by as much as 50%, but an hour of regular walking a day does not give such an effect, according to a new Danish study.
The results of the study show that it is the intensity of the exercises, and not their duration, that matters when it comes to protecting against the metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is characterized by a combination of factors, such as increased sugar, blood fat, high blood pressure and abdominal obesity (in the abdomen and waist), which lead not only to cardiovascular diseases, but also to diabetes and stroke.
Researchers from the University Hospital Bispegger in Copenhagen examined data from more than 10,000 Danish adults between the ages of 21 and 98, who began to follow up in 1991-1994 and continued for 10 years. At the initial examination, about 20% of women and 27% of men had metabolic syndrome.
At the beginning of the study, those participants who were least active were more prone to the syndrome. Almost a third of inactive women and about 37% of men suffered from manifestations of the metabolic syndrome, compared with 10% among physically active women and about 14% among physically active men.
Towards the end of the study period, metabolic syndrome developed in approximately 15% of people who had no metabolic disturbances at the start of the study. The syndrome developed in 19% of inactive people and in 12% of those who were physically very active.
Further studies showed that not only the duration of the workouts, but also their intensity helped to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome. Brisk walking reduces risk by 50%, jogging - by 40%, while a daily walk for one hour does not play any role.
