Is exercising twice a week enough to keep you fit?

Compared to those who do not work out at all, people who exercise twice a week have less chance of having heart attacks strokes and other heart-related ailments. Photo: iStock/keaw6566

Most people wish to keep their body fit by working out regularly and following a healthy diet. However, exercising daily becomes an impossible task for many due to their busy schedule. Meanwhile, a recent study says that working out or exercising for just two days a week is enough to keep you fit and healthy and can even reduce body weight.

Compared to those who do not work out at all, people who exercise twice a week have less chance of having heart attacks strokes and other heart-related ailments. Around 90,000 participants had taken part in this study that was conducted in 2023. Meanwhile, in another study conducted with 3,51,000 participants, it was found that the chance of premature death was almost the same in those who exercise twice a week and people who work out for more than three days.

The researchers at the National Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases at Fuwai Hospital in Beijing, China, used this information to begin a new research study. In this study, Dual Energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA scan) was used to measure the bone mineral density and the amount of fat in the participants’ bodies. The data of 9600 participants were studied. Among this, 4000 participants exercised for at least 150 minutes in a week and they completed it in three or more days.

Meanwhile, 772 persons completed the stipulated duration of exercise in one or two days a week. Researchers observed that, compared to those who do not exercise at all, participants in both these categories had less fat in the waist, body mass index and generally low amount of fat deposit. The research report claims that even though there were differences in the number of times or days of exercise, participants in the above two categories had achieved almost similar fitness goals.

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