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Updated: Aug 1, 2026

Conducting Maximal and Submaximal Endurance Exercise Testing to Measure Physiological and Biological Responses to Acute Exercise in Humans
Published on: October 17, 2018
[Do people exercise less than they think?]
P F Hjort1, H T Waaler, A Tverdal
1Avdeling for samfunnsmedisin, Statens institutt for folkehelse, Oslo.
Abstract:
Physical activity is important for health. Physical inactivity is an independent risk factor for disease and speeds up aging. People say in health surveys that they exercise more than they did before. This does not conform with two important facts: Over the last 20 years people have reduced their calorie intake, but their weight is increasing. The only possible explanation is that they exercise less than before, probably because their daily life requires less and less physical activity. We believe this to be a serious health problem, and support the most recent recommendation: A daily walk for 30 minutes.
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