The unexpected benefit of just 5 minutes of physical activity a day

In five minutesa time that we very often consider irrelevant, we can do many things: make a coffee, make a phone call, wash the dishes, go to the bathroom, listen to a song or watch a video on YouTube. And, second a study just publishedin those few minutes we can treat ourselves to a brisk walk that we can have a concrete impact on our health and longevity.

The unexpected benefit of just 5 minutes of physical activity

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This is according to a study coordinated by the Norwegian School of Sports Sciences and published on The Lanceta simple observation arose: physical inactivity is responsible for a significant share of global mortality, estimated between 7% and 9%but traditional recommendations on exercise still struggle to translate into real, lasting changes. Hence the idea of ​​understanding whether even minimal increases, more realistic and accessible for everyone, can make a difference.

Small changes, big effects

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The researchers have analyzed the data of approximately 135 thousand adultsmonitoring their physical activity levels through wearable devices such as smartwatches and fitness trackers. This allowed them to measure real, daily movement and relate it to health outcomes over time.

The most interesting result that emerged from the study is that add even just 5 minutes a day of moderate intensity physical activitysuch as a brisk walk, around 5 km per hour, is associated with a reduction in the risk of premature death by up to 10%. Not only that: reducing the time spent sitting also has measurable effects.

Spend 30 minutes less per day in a sedentary position is associated with a 7% reduction in mortality. As you gradually level up, the benefits increase: 10 minutes more of daily movement they reduce mortality by up to 15%, while one hour less sitting it is linked to a drop in risk of up to 13%.

It works especially for those who move less

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A key aspect that emerged from the analysis concerns people who lead more sedentary lives. They are the ones who have the greatest benefits. The study confirms two very important aspects that could push the most sedentary people to a change: a few minutes of physical activity a day are enough to improve your health and you don’t need too demanding activities, but it’s enough to walk outdoors, climb the stairs or do household cleaning with a little extra energy.