Interval training ‘better for heart than endurance exercise’

Any form of exercise is good for those trying to lose weight, but interval training is best when it comes to cutting heart disease risk, a study has shown.

University of the West of Scotland researchers found that brief, intense bouts of exercise can reduce bad heart health risk factors faster than endurance training can.

The study revealed that blood pressure improved more in a group of teenagers who completed short sprints than another group that completed 20-minute runs.

Cathy Ross, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said that, while interval training made for a healthier heart in a shorter amount of time, both forms of exercise improved the condition of the organ to some degree.

“The results are another reminder that any type of physical activity, performed at the right level, is essential for long-term health and need not take over our lives,” she added.

Back in December, researchers from Siteman Cancer Center at Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St Louis found that regular exercise can also reduce a person’s risk of dying from colon cancer.

Which type of exercise do you prefer – interval or endurance?