From the Cooper Institute: Exercise

"According to a new study, even low levels of weekly exercise (below the current recommendations), provide major health benefits. Researchers conducted a 12 week study on 106 healthy, but sedentary adults between the ages of 40 and 61. The participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups. The first group briskly walked 3 days a week for 30 minutes. The second group briskly walked 5 days a week for 30 minutes. The third group was the non-walking control group. After 12 weeks, the findings revealed that blood pressure and waist and hip girth decreased significantly in both of the walking groups. Overall fitness also increased in both of the walking groups. The researchers noted that these positive changes are enough to make a difference to an individual's risk of heart disease. There were no changes in the control group. Hopefully, these findings will encourage people who haven't been able to make time for the recommended 30 minutes of physical activity 5 days a week. Remember, some activity is better than none!"