Short bursts of vigorous activity can cut risk of early death, study suggests

The research focused on ‘little bursts’ of activity that happen in everyday life, like playing with a dog. Photograph: Jag Images/Getty Images/Image Source

Whether it is playing with the dog or attacking the housework, clocking up just a few minutes of vigorous activity in daily life could dramatically reduce the chance of early death, research suggests.

The study, led by scientists at the University of Sydney, found middle-aged adults who do not undertake leisure exercise such as going to the gym but who manage to rack up three very short bouts of vigorous activity a day have about a 39% lower risk of death than those who do no vigorous activity.