If you don't have time to follow the general recommendations for exercising for 20-30 minutes at a time, then two 15-minute or three 10-minute 'bursts' will provide the same benefit. That's the finding from a study reported in a recent issue of the AHA journal Circulation.

In a study of more than 7,300 men, results showed that several short sessions of exercise may be as beneficial as a single long one if the total amount of exercise is the same. When the total energy expended was similar, shorter sessions of exercise had a similar effect on the risk of heart disease as longer ones.

The experts feel that just about anybody can fit a few short bursts of exercise into their day. They also point out that the exercise must be at a moderate pace in order to be beneficial. Things like a quick stair climb or two, a brisk 10-minute walk on a coffee break, or dancing to fast music for 10 minutes before dinner will add up to improved fitness and reduced cardiovascular risk.

Sources:

• AHA. Fighting heart disease a few minutes at a time. News release, Aug. 29, 2000.
• Krucoff C. Got no time for serious fitness training? The long and short of it. Los Angeles Times, Dec. 4, 2000, pages S1, S8.