Highly active adults participate in multiple types of exercise

A new study published in the journal of Translational Behavioural Medicine found that the adults in the study group defined as ‘highly active’ participated in a wider variety of physical activities than the least active individuals. The study from New York University found that walking was the most common type of exercise in the almost 10,000 participants followed by cycling and dancing.

Study author assistant professor Susan Malone, PhD, RN and her colleagues analyzed the patterns of physical activity of the individuals and found that the most active engaged in 5 different types of activities in a month.

The World Health Organization State that the benefits of physical activity are:

• A lower rate of all-cause mortality including, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, colon and breast cancer and depression

• Less chance of a hip or vertebral fracture

• Healthier weight management including a healthier body mass and composition