Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that step and time-based exercise goals are equally effective in reducing mortality and cardiovascular risk, suggesting that personal preference should guide the choice of physical activity targets. The study calls for future guidelines to incorporate flexible, inclusive measures of physical fitness. According to new research, setting exercise goals based on steps or time is equally beneficial for health, suggesting that personal preference should guide the choice of exercise metrics.
Since the emergence of smartwatches, step-based exercise goals have become increasingly popular. However, current physical activity guidelines lack specific recommendations for step counts. In a new study, researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital have found that step-based and time-based exercise targets are equally effective at reducing the risk of premature death and cardiovascular disease .
These findings, published in JAMA Internal Medicine , suggest that the choice of a time-based exercise goal or a step-based one is largely a matter of personal preference. The Current State of Exercise Guidelines According to the current U.S.
health guidelines , last updated in 2018, adults should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week, such as brisk walking, or 75 minutes of vigorous activities like jogging. Historically, these guidelines were based on self-reported physical activity data, with limited .
