What does "vigorous physical activity" really mean? To hit the right amount weekly, you need to know when you're pushing hard enough. For more healthy action tips, download the Mayo Clinic app. https://mayocl.in/2V7SlDf | Mayo Clinic

The current physical activity guidelines undervalue vigorous activity. Vigorous activity may be 4–9× more potent than moderate activity for reducing all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer risk. The exercise guidelines assume a 2:1 ratio between moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity: two minutes of moderate activity equals one minute of vigorous. That’s why the recommendations are 150–300 minutes of moderate or 75–150 minutes of vigorous activity each week. But new

One minute of vigorous physical activity can achieve the same 5–35% reduction in all-cause mortality risk as nearly 1 hour of light-intensity activity. For other health outcomes, the ratio is even larger: 1 minute of vigorous activity is equivalent to 94 minutes for reducing new diabetes risk, 73–86 minutes for cardiovascular disease and major adverse cardiovascular events, and 156 minutes for cancer risk reduction. Perhaps most striking is the lack of any apparent dose-response relationship bet