FINDING THAT 'SWEET SPOT'

Know how much exercise is enough to avoid being counterproductive

- MARK McCADDEN

IS THERE such a thing as too much exercise? And is there such a thing as a 'sweet spot' when it comes to the amount of time you spend working out every week?

Beyond the Breakpoint: Finding the Sweet Spot for Exercise and Longevity attempts to answer these questions.

For years, the fitness mantra was simple - more is better.

However, new evidence shows that more than roughly ten hours a week of vigorous training buys almost no extra time on the planet.

And it can ultimately be counterproductive, as it can leave insufficient time for proper recovery.

One-third of the world's adults, approximately 1.8billion people, did not meet recommended levels of physical activity in 2022, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

This figure is projected to rise to 35 percent by 2030 if current trends continue, posing significant health challenges globally.

The WHO estimates that physical inactivity will cost global health systems over €260bn in direct medical expenses by 2030.

The American Heart Association recommends that adults engage in 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75-150 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity weekly.

This should be done along with muscle-strength-ening activities on two or more days per week.

Meeting these guidelines is associated with a 20 to 21 percent reduction in all-cause mortality.