‘Astonishing’ news on obesity and exercise: 30 minutes a week can offset heart health risk

Researchers amazed to find obese people with belly fat who do 30 minutes’ high-intensity exercise a week offset cardiovascular disease risk

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Obese people with belly fat who do 30 minutes of vigorous exercise a week such as running have the same risk of cardiovascular disease as non-obese people, a study found. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 11:15am, 10 Jul 2024

There is good news for obese people, who are at risk of cardiovascular disease such as stroke and the kind that can cause heart attacks: exercising vigorously for 30 minutes a week can offset that risk.

And for those who find it a challenge to do high-intensity exercise such as running or HIIT – high-intensity interval training – 8 to 9 hours a week of moderate exercise, such as brisk walking or cycling, will have the same effect.

The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, found obese people with belly fat who exercised did not have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and death compared to people who did not have fat around their middle.

“It was astonishing for us to see that the risk of high waist circumference was completely overset in those who were the most active,” said researcher Melody Ding, a professor of public health at The University of Sydney.

Obese people who cannot manage vigorous exercise can do moderate exercise instead, such as a light jog or walk, to offset the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, but will need to do 8-9 hours a week, a study suggests. Photo: Shutterstock

The research used data from more than 70,000 participants aged 37 to 73, 56 per cent of whom were female.