Exercising is considered beneficial for overall health. Health experts say everyone should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-level exercise per week. By doing this, you can reduce the risk of many health problems caused by lifestyle disturbances.
Studies have found that people who do not exercise and are physically inactive may be at a higher risk of developing many acute and chronic diseases.
If exercise is so beneficial then can exercising for 4-5 hours a day keep the body better and fit? What if a person started exercising for 4 hours daily? Let's know about this.
How Much Exercise Is Enough?
David Bassett, professor of exercise psychology at the University of Tennessee, says exercise is both beneficial and necessary for the body. Its regular practice is necessary for all people. But before you decide how long you need to exercise, you should consider your exercise goals.
Are you exercising for physical fitness, weight control, or as a way to keep your stress levels down?
Everyone's needs and abilities may be different
For general health benefits, even a daily form of walking may be enough, say, fitness experts. But if you exercise for specific goals, such as lowering blood pressure, improving cardiovascular fitness, or losing weight, you may need more exercise or higher-intensity exercise.
But it is necessary for everyone that exercise should be done as much as your physical ability, more than this the habit of exercising can be harmful to you.
What are the guidelines for exercise?
According to 2019 guidelines from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), adults should aim for 150 to 300 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical exercise each week for optimal health. Aerobic exercise is known to be beneficial for improving cardiorespiratory fitness.
Running, brisk walking, swimming, and bicycling are all forms of aerobic exercise. 5-6 hours of exercise a week is sufficient for overall fitness.
Is daily exercise beneficial or harmful?
Most fitness experts believe that not more than 60-80 minutes of daily exercise should be enough for our body's needs. On the other hand, if you exercise daily for 3-4 hours or more, then it can also have many disadvantages. It can have both short-term and long-term side effects.
Exercising too much can tire the muscles, which may require longer periods of rest. It can increase stress and hormonal changes along with trouble sleeping, muscle pain, or heaviness in the limbs. It can also cause a decrease in testosterone levels.
(PC: Freepik)
