Activity Duration and Health Correlation

This collection of literary articles surveys the effects of physical activity upon an individual’s health and well-being solely focused on its respective duration. It first will provide a brief overview of the topic’s main claim, then delve into the more narrow synthesis perspectives that contribute to the much broader idea. The review will then conclude with the potential future directions of research regarding this area of interest and/or expertise; while also highlighting the limitations within this field that have been recognized.

Physical activity and health are common territories that accumulate a plethora of passionate debate over what is right versus what is not. This argument engulfs our society and reputes differing stances that ultimately gives rise to fad diets, exercises or lifestyles that have the ability to alter someone’s well-being. However, the type of physical fitness inevitably arbitrates the level of health one can achieve; which if not chosen correctly can cease or stall any beneficiary vigor.

For this literature review, the conceptual proposal emphasizes the importance of bout duration of a workout rather than the drill of activity. This can further generate the specificity of the argument in whether or not short bouts are more favorable over one long bout of exercise. In light of more recent studies conducted, evidence has shown that much shorter bouts of physical fitness produce a more rewarding degree of personal health. This profit of one’s welfare spans across multiple possible constituents which include anywhere from a person’s BMI to their cardiovascular risk score.

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Throughout the course of these articles, cross- sectional, perspective, and randomized studies were implemented in order to collect credible proof attributing to the overarching results.

After the careful examination and comprehension of each article, the resulting and final consensus yielded very similar findings. Of the vast majority, shorter bouts of physical activity presented better byproducts, in regard to fitness level. The terms “intermittent” and “continuous,” were frequently used in describing the class of physical activity, or otherwise referred to as PA. In sum, there was an accumulation of health benefits. These comprising of benefits anywhere from improved waist circumference results to increased protection against cardiovascular disease or hypertension development. In addition, those who participated in the ‘intermittent’ exercise groups uncovered a supporting piece of authentication. In one article it hinted that shorter, more frequent bouts of physical activity would enhance one’s commitment and/or attachment to exercise.

Through this article’s discussed experimental data, the group partaking in shorter bouts of exercise portrayed significant adherence. They would workout more which resulted in a larger total of time spent doing physical activity. This is in comparison with the opposite group who only exercised for longer bouts. The researcher continued to declare that the individuals performing multiple shorter spells of physical activity spiked their rate of oxygen; which in result, establishes a better built aerobic endurance (Jakicic, 1995). Together these ten different pieces of work constructed a claim of interchangeable nature; however, they didn’t all return with exact, identical results. It is a given that any partaking of exercise will increase or enhance a person’s physical state. When the focus shifts to this fixed hub, the chances of conceding uniform answers to the research is slim. Yes, the experimental approach deciphered an all-inclusive concord, but each article studied and marshalled marginal payoffs. In other words, these written pieces all pivot around a comparable and/or parallel argument; the difference is which existing health benefit is being tested along with who the test subjects are.

One of the first articles I came across compared the effects between continuous and intermittent aerobic exercise on weight loss and body fat percentage in overweight and obese women (Alizadeh, 2013). This researcher’s method was to gather individuals into three different groups; each consisting of fifteen people. The first group would perform forty minutes of moderate intensity exercise. They would do this three different times each day for five days. This group was called the intermittent group. The second group of fifteen individuals would exercise only one time per day for forty minutes and would continue this for five days per week. This grouping was the continuous group.

This researcher also mentioned a third group of participants who were the control group. These individuals did not adhere to a specific exercise regime. Throughout this experiment, it was suggested that each grouping partake in a calorie- deficit diet; and in order to monitor and analyze their results certain measures needed to be taken. Each individual had their body fat percentage, waist circumference, and also skinfold measurements taken at the baseline of the experiment and at the end of the 12 weeks. The recorded results of this experiment showed a significant reduction of the intermittent groups’ weight and BMI in comparison to the continuous group (Alizadeh, 2013).

A scientist’s work of kindred relation but, ratifies the point of gathering slightly contrasting information is the work of Kim Chung. Chung studied the effects of prolonged exercise versus multiple short exercise sessions on risk for metabolic syndrome and the atherogenic index in middle-aged obese women (Chung, 2017). Her methodology was executed through an experiment consisting of thirty-six individuals. These thirty-six individuals were then divided into three groups; these included the single-session group, multiple session group, and the control group.

Each grouping exercised at different frequencies throughout the day and different time periods. For the single-session group, they would partake in working out once during a day for thirty minutes. The next group would workout three times throughout the day each being only ten minutes long. The last group, also known as the control group, did not participate in any physical activity. Both the single session and multiple session group would continue their daily exercise routine for three days per week for a total of twelve weeks. Following the direction of work Chung revealed, that she found continuous exercise to be more beneficial over sporatic, short instances of exercise for the improvement of metabolic syndrome risk decreassing and the blood lipid levels in obese women whom are middle-aged. Although Chung also disclosed that the more short sessions are becoming increasingly proposed for targeting the decrease of one’s blood glucose or waist circumference (Chung 2017).

The example of utilizing multiple different controls within this area of researched interest could furthermore reinforce the substance behind bout duration while also hindering differing results. Timothy Quinn studied two short, daily activity bouts vs. one long bout; questioning the health and fitness improvements similar over twelve and twenty-four weeks (Quinn, 2006). Quinn expressed, That this was the first of its kind, in terms of, a study where both men and women were observed in participating in two different physical activity spells while under a list of controls. These controls ranged on the type of exercise, the exercise’s overall intensity, and was expected to illustrate a crossover study. Quinn found similar results to the rest of the researchers mentioned in this review. He unraveled that the ‘incremental, or INT’ class created much more beneficial physiological and potential health benefits. This is in great comparison to the much more common ‘continuous, or CON’ class. Continuing to mention, this type of physical activity, if applied in a consistent fashion, will exhibit developments in the cardiovascular aspect of one’s own health (Quinn, 2006).

Through the discussion of these scientific articles, it is obvious that short bouts of PA are valuable to one’s well-being. This mode of pursuit portrays and/or documents promising effects but, other factors also house a large role in which virtues one may fundamentally encounter over their own lifespan. It is through this that we can understand that physical fitness bout duration is of true significance but, we must understand the components that essentially surround them and create their deciding factors.

These articles possess an extensive volume of feasible proof nevertheless, it is not an area of study that is entirely solid. There were limitations, or gaps, within this analysis that could boost its’ universal recollection. For one, there wasn’t enough diversity within the studies. Oftentimes, the article would be limited to focusing or reaching out to one nature or set of individuals. For example, Chung’s study only concentrated on the health benefits of middle-aged obese women (Chung, 2017). This can not work to provide the most spread out and widely-used results; the researcher must conduct a more so demographic study (Jakicic, 1995).

So, what could be possible future directions for research emerging from this synthesis of sources? Well, experiments must be conducted with a larger, more diverse research trial. If the group brought for observation displays true differences among their individual selves and, if the classes of people are of higher number then, the results yielded will provide more insightful data to a more broad- encompassing public. The researcher must attract more than just three groups, containing fifteen people per grouping and expect results that attract the most credibility. They must create a larger range and implement the action of retrieving and/ or extracting more useful results or evidence. This will then help the people to decide, is it applicable or beneficial to them? If so, what will they gain from this mode of physical activity?

In conclusion, the analysis of how duration of physical activity and an individual’s health affects one another was the main claim and/or argument of this literature review. This was shown through an experimental approach while also slightly incorporating a concept and hypothesis approach. The review began with a brief overview, then was followed by a more in-depth synthesis of perspectives. As the review concluded, limitations and future research pathways were discussed.