Volunteers wanted to improve health and fitness by exercising less

Researchers at the University of Birmingham's School of Sport and Exercise Sciences are calling for volunteers to take part in a study investigating the use of high intensity interval training (HIT) as a means to improve health and fitness. The research is seeking to assess how different modes of exercise training can affect cardiovascular and metabolic health in an obese population and is proposing that exercise training of a shorter duration can be as effective as endurance training. This proposes an attractive solution for individuals who simply cannot find the time to exercise. Lead researcher Sam Shepherd, from the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences commented: "Although we all know exercise is good for us, the majority of people don't meet the recommended guidelines of 30-60 minutes per day and the most common reason for this is lack of time. "Our previous research shows HIT, consisting of repeated 30-second bouts of intense exercise three times per week in just 20-minute sessions, elicits the same improvements in physical health and fitness, as performing 60 minutes of moderate exercise five times per week. Therefore, the total time commitment for exercise can be reduced from five hours to only one hour per week. "We are now hoping to show the same beneficial effects in an obese population at risk of type 2-diabetes and cardiovascular disease.