Adults Tend To Underestimate What “Moderate” Or “Vigorous” Exercise Requires

A study involving 129 sedentary Canadian adult finds that they were able to correctly tell whether they were exercising lightly, but tended to say they were exercising moderately or vigorously  when they fell short of those levels, even after some instruction. The participants, who used treadmills, were asked to indicate whether they felt they were working out lightly, moderately or vigorously. Exercise guidelines say adult heart rates should be within 64 to 76 percent of their maximum heart rate for moderate activity, and between 77 to 83 percent for vigorous intensity. The researchers said their findings indicate that most adults underestimate the intensity of physical activity needed to achieve healthy results.