Study: Less exercise may actually be better

DURHAM, N.C. – Under certain conditions, moderate exercise is more beneficial than higher intensity workouts, according to a study released earlier this month by Duke University Medical Center. \nThe study examined the relationship between exercise frequency and intensity and cholesterol levels in 240 middle-aged adults who had been previously inactive. Participants were divided into groups and assigned different exercise programs. \nAdditional activity improved cholesterol and triglyceride levels in all groups, but the study also found that these benefits lasted longer in the group assigned a more moderate exercise schedule, such as walking 30 minutes a few days a week. \n“On the surface, it seems to make sense that the harder we exercise, the better off we’ll be, and by some measures that’s true,” Cris Slentz, the study’s lead author and an exercise physiologist at DUMC, said in a July 31 press release. “But our studies show that a modest amount of moderately intense exercise is the best way to significantly lower the level of a key blood marker linked to higher risk of heart disease and diabetes. More intense exercise doesn’t seem to do that.” \nAlthough the study may not be of utmost importance to college students – most of whom need not begin regularly watching cholesterol levels until age 30 – the idea that more exercise is not necessarily better is important to keep in mind, said Kim McNally, program coordinator in the health, physical education and recreation department. \n“It’s more important for (students) to try to follow general recommendations in developing an exercise program,” she added. \nAlthough cholesterol levels rarely cross students’ minds, fitness remains a high priority for many. Exercise routines vary widely, and McNally stressed the importance of a plan customized to the individual’s schedule and personal goals. \n“We often come across the problem of students overexercising. Students may hear that 20 to 60 minutes of cardio is recommended, and assume they need to tend toward the high end of that range, or even longer, especially here where so many students strive for perfection,” McNally said. “A shorter duration of high-intensity cardio may actually be more effective in burning calories.” \nFreshman Anne Marie Gordon is a competitive athlete on the University track team and works out for an hour and a half five to six times a week on average to maintain strength and her competitive edge. She said her workouts balance periods of high intensity with more moderate exercises, she said. \nJunior David Liu takes time out two to three times a week for about an hour of moderate exercise – primarily weight lifting. \n“My goal is basically just making sure I stay fit,” he said. \nDespite different routines and goals, Gordon and Liu share a common source for information on fitness and exercise: the Internet. Liu said he looked for tips online, and Gordon said she supplemented the workout schedule given to her by her coach with exercise ideas she found on Web sites. \nFor students looking for information about fitness and suggestions for developing a personal exercise regimen, McNally pointed to the American College of Sports Medicine as an excellent source for tips and the latest scientific studies. The Web site offers advice for developing an individual exercise plan.