The 5 Diseases That Exercise May Ward Off, University of Washington Study

That exercise reduces the risk for a number of diseases and disorders isn’t really up for debate at this point. But what is debated by the scientific community, and constantly, is how much exercise people should get, and what type. Health organizations and governments call for certain amounts in minutes and intensity: 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week seems to be the norm. But a new study calls into question current recommendations, finding that at least when it comes to disease prevention, we may need quite a bit more than we’re getting. Luckily, many of the mundane tasks we do every day–walking the dog, sweeping the floor–really do count as exercise.