It's official - researchers at Queens University in Ontario have essentially said that as far as getting active is concerned, we really have no excuse.
Their new study, published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise says that everyday chores count as exercise, and can contribute to overall fitness and heart health. Incidental tasks like carrying groceries, cleaning the house, gardening, and walking around the office at work all boost our cardiorespiratory fitness and burn calories.
The study was conducted by the Department of Kinesiology and Health Studies, and included 135 obese men and women. Participants used accelerometers to measure the number of minutes per day they spent doing these everyday physical activities, as well as the intensity at which they did the activities. The researchers found that intensity was actually more important than the amount of time spent on these tasks - so next time you're washing your car, cooking, or vacuuming, put a little extra effort into it - your heart will thank you!
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