- Editorial
Physical Activity and Health: What Is the Best Dose?
- Leonard A. Kaminsky, PhD;
- Alexander H. K. Montoye, PhD
+Author Affiliations
- Correspondence to:
Leonard A. Kaminsky, PhD, Clinical Exercise Physiology Program, Human Performance Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306. E‐mail:kaminskyla@bsu.edu
Introduction
Clinicians and scientists have known for a long time of the many health benefits obtained by regularly performing physical activity (PA). Studies by Morris and colleagues1–2 50 to 60 years ago showed that male workers in occupations requiring them to be physically active had significantly lower rates of coronary heart disease in middle age than those with sedentary occupations. The research evidence base grew substantially over the years, leading to 2 major public health statements promoting the importance of PA for health and the American Heart Association adding physical inactivity to the major risk factor list in the 1990s.3–5In 2008, the first federal Physical Activity Guidelines were issued based on evidence that engaging in 150 minutes per week of moderate‐intensity PA or 75 minutes per week of vigorous‐intensity PA would result in substantial health benefits.6 This recommendation implies that the total volume of PA, regardless of whether it is performed at moderate or vigorous intensity, is the key for stimulating health benefits. The study by Shiroma and colleagues7 in this issue of JAHA used an epidemiological approach to evaluate whether there were differences in mortality rates based on the proportion of total PA volume obtained with moderate or vigorous intensity. This experienced author group used data provided by 2 major cohorts, the Harvard Alumni Health Study and the Women's Health Study, each of which has brought us a wealth of evidence of factors associated with health, including PA. They report that the most active men and women had mortality rates 36% to 55% lower than those who were least active and that there was a modest (4% to 10%) additional benefit for men if a greater proportion of the total PA volume was of vigorous intensity./.../
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