A new study conducted in Taiwan reveals that providing the body with a small dose of exercise several days a week can equate to a substantial list of health benefits.

Taiwan’s National Health Research Institutes have discovered that those who exercise an overall average of 92 minutes a week acquired a 14 percent decreased mortality rate in comparison to inactive individuals.  The study, which was published in the Lancet, uncovers that this 14 percent mortality reduction translates into three added years to one’s life.

The significance of exercise is a well understood fact by society’s majority but it’s well known it’s not practiced by all.  Taiwan’s new study gives a new perspective to the typical look at exercise; It has consistently been vocalized that exercise in the arena of 30 minutes 5 days a week is the ideal but it’s a sure thing that Taiwan’s findings will offer people a look into exercise.

The study reads that while an individual may not be able to exercise into the 30 minute realm consistently if they can squeeze 15 minutes of exercise into their day they’ve still undoubtedly benefited there body.  The 30 minute a day mentality can be an overwhelming standard for many- Taiwan’s study, rather than feeding this mentality helps acknowledge the importance of exercise in a newer light.

The study’s researchers questioned 416,175 people who self-assessed how much they exercised.  Those surveyed were asked to note types of exercise they carried out in the previous month which includes walking, jogging and running which were then sorted into levels activity- inactive, low, medium, high or very high activity

The majority of participants were found to be classified as inactive while 22% were low, 14% as medium, and 5% for high and very high activity.

After that study was conducted the researchers carried out a follow up study organized after an approximate 8 years to determine the mortality risk and life expectancy for each grouping.

Their findings uncovered that simply 15 minutes of moderately intense exercise amounted to “significant health benefits” for those who were originally inactive. Ultimately the group of those who exercised had fewer deaths and fewer cancer-related deaths than the inactive category of people.

While many organizers fluent in the health and fitness field do recommend a half hour of exercise five days a week, this study helps cement the fact that even an ounce of exercise is working toward greater bodily health.

“Individuals are more likely to do 15 minutes of daily exercise than they are 30 minutes of daily exercise,” the authors stated.

Nonetheless the study was an observational study which leaves gaps for slight inaccuracy of the findings to arise.  This truth makes it difficult to determine whether the health outcomes of those studied were a result of exercise alone. And with the exercise accounts within the study being self-reported, this makes determining exactly how strong the health benefits of exercise are even further.

Yet it remains undeniable the positive impact any form of exercise can bring to one’s body and quality of life.

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About the author

Kendra Hale
Born and raised in the eclectic Seattle area, I've possessed an appetite for writing ever since I can remember. This passion has trickled over into my college academic journey as I have taken the leap of declaring myself as a journalism major. Along with writing I love to sing, laugh, dance, workout, simply live and learn as much as humanly possible!

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