GET HCM
magazine
Sign up for the FREE digital edition of HCM magazine and also get the HCM ezine and breaking news email alerts.
Not right now, thanksclose this window I've already subscribed!
Elevate Arena
Elevate Arena
Elevate Arena
Follow Health Club Management on Twitter Like Health Club Management on Facebook Join the discussion with Health Club Management on LinkedIn
FITNESS, HEALTH, WELLNESS

features

Research: Powering up

Vigorous activity is four times more powerful than moderate exercise, according to research by the University of Sydney and Norwich Medical School

Published in Health Club Management 2025 issue 11
Woman running on treadmill
Running packs a punch in terms of heart health / iStock/nortonrsx

New research published in Nature Communications has found that vigorous exercise, such as running, is four times more effective than moderate exercise – such as walking – when it comes to protecting the heart.

The research, Wearable device-based health equivalence of different physical activity intensities against mortality, cardiometabolic disease and cancer, was undertaken folllowing a collaboration between the University of Sydney and Norwich Medical School at the University of East Anglia in the UK.

Our findings are in stark contrast to the widely-used current convention of a 1:2 ratio between vigorous and moderate intensity exercise

After assessing data from 73,000 adults using wearables, researchers found that each minute of vigorous intensity activity is roughly equivalent to four to nine minutes of moderate activity and 53–156 min of light intensity physical activity for all cause mortality and cardiometabolic outcomes.

The findings raise questions about the World Health Organization’s guidance that people should undertake 150–300 min of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, with WHO saying this is the equivalent to 75–150 min of vigorous physical activity. This assumes that vigorous exercise is only twice as beneficial as moderate exercise, rather than the four-times impact revealed by the research.

Time to recalibrate
“Our findings are in stark contrast to the widely used current convention of a 1:2 ratio between vigorous and moderate intensity, which was derived from self-reported data,” say the researchers. “Our work supports practitioners and future trials to establish more accurate exercise dosages and define options for prescribing physical activity prescription and personalised medicine initiatives.” 

More: www.hcmmag.com/WHOguidelines

New research brings WHO exercise guidlines into question
HCM magazine
Raphael Cuomo explores the powerful link between addiction, health and behaviour change
HCM magazine
Small improvements to sleep, diet and physical activity have major benefits for the heart, according to new research from the University of Sydney
HCM magazine
As the entrepreneur who started Wexer, Fresh Fitness, Fitness DK and Repeat, as well as being a former elite athlete, Rasmus Ingerslev’s life looked perfect from the outside, but onthe inside it was a different story. He talks to Kath Hudson about healing old wounds
HCM magazine
If the health service is to survive, we must recognise that it is a disease service – and that wellbeing rests with us, says the activity advocate and healthy ageing champion. He talks to Kate Cracknell
HCM magazine
HCM People

Stephen Price

Founder, SP&Co Group
Working in public health over the last few years has lit up parts of my brain again
HCM promotional features
Sponsored
Find out how your gym can tap into the corporate wellness boom
HCM promotional features
Sponsored
SnowDome Fitness has added 50 per cent more space with cutting-edge Technogym solutions
HCM promotional features
Sponsored
Third Space partnered with IndigoFitness to deliver a bespoke training space for its new club at The Whiteley
HCM promotional features
Sponsored
Starpool supports Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs, says Riccardo Turri
HCM promotional features
Sponsored
Greg Bradley looks at the shift towards strength training in gyms and advises on how operators can create the ultimate training environment
HCM promotional features
Sponsored
David Lloyd is stepping up its commitment to women’s health as it continues to explore what fit-for-purpose looks like for the female population
HCM promotional features
Sponsored
EGYM has opened a new HQ in Paternoster Square, London and revealed a range of new launches
HCM promotional features
Promotion
BLK BOX has been reimagining elite performance spaces for more than a decade. Founder and former athlete, Greg Bradley, tells us what it takes
HCM promotional features
Promotion
Performance Health Systems, manufacturer of Power Plate, has a new CEO, with an ambitious vision for the company
HCM promotional features
Latest News
Australia’s fast-growing fitness network, Viva Leisure, is adding a low-cost gym brand to its already ...
Latest News
Speedflex has launched a strength training programme for 10 to 16-year-olds, to make it safer, ...
Latest News
Tewinbury Farm Hotel in Hertfordshire, UK is expanding its premium leisure proposition with the launch ...
Latest News

Work is underway in Madrid on one of Europe’s most significant multi-functional complexes, ...

Latest News
PureGym is encouraging people to step away from their screens and go for a walk, ...
Latest News
Small improvements to sleep, diet quality, and physical activity, made in combination lead to a ...
Latest News
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions that measure 65,000sq m, will ...
Latest News
The Yard Gym (TYG) is to become Nike Training’s official global training partner in a ...
Opinion
promotion
Strength training has moved from the margins to the mainstream.
Opinion: Building smarter strength spaces for today’s operators
Featured supplier news
Featured supplier news: Elevate 2026 to mark 10-year anniversary with biggest ever waterfront drinks reception
Elevate is set to celebrate its 10th anniversary in style this June, with organisers confirming the event’s largest-ever drinks reception as registrations continue to run more than 10% ahead of last year.
Featured supplier news
Featured supplier news: Supporting long-term health: why whole body vibration belongs in clinical settings
As healthcare continues to shift towards prevention, there’s a growing focus on helping people stay active, independent and feeling good for longer.
Company profiles
Company profile: Epassi UK
For the last 23 years they have been on a mission to create a fitter, ...
Company profiles
Company profile: Wattbike
Wattbike’s mission is to make Wattbike the ultimate training partner for improving health and performance. ...
Supplier Showcases
Supplier Showcase - Future-proofing
Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
Featured press releases
ukactive press release: Are they Fit for Office? UK Active and Technogym throw down the gauntlet to MPs
Hundreds of staff, MPs and Peers from across Westminster have signed up for the Fit for Office parliamentary physical activity challenge, which takes place throughout June and is hosted by ukactive and Technogym.
Featured press releases
Innerva press release: Lex Leisure’s power-assisted exercise suite smashes targets in record time
Crook Log Leisure Centre has more than doubled the membership target for its new power- assisted exercise suite in less than six months.
Directory
Lockers
Crown Sports Lockers: Lockers
Water experiences and hydrotherapy solutions
Aquaform s.r.l.: Water experiences and hydrotherapy solutions
Industrial washing machines
Miele Company Limited: Industrial washing machines
Fitness tracking platform
SpiviTech: Fitness tracking platform
Hot tubs
MSpa International Ltd: Hot tubs
Spa and beauty equipment
Living Earth Crafts: Spa and beauty equipment
Property & Tenders
Stratford, East London.
Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
Property & Tenders
Y Felinheli, LL56 4QN
Newmark
Property & Tenders
Diary dates
13-13 Jun 2026
Worldwide, Various,
Diary dates
21-24 Sep 2026
The Langham Huntington Pasadena , Pasadena, United States
Diary dates
06-08 Oct 2026
Messe Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
Diary dates
22-22 Oct 2026
QEII Conference Centre, London,
Diary dates
26-29 Oct 2027
Koelnmesse Exhibition Centre, Cologne, Germany
Diary dates

features

Research: Powering up

Vigorous activity is four times more powerful than moderate exercise, according to research by the University of Sydney and Norwich Medical School

Published in Health Club Management 2025 issue 11
Woman running on treadmill
Running packs a punch in terms of heart health / iStock/nortonrsx

New research published in Nature Communications has found that vigorous exercise, such as running, is four times more effective than moderate exercise – such as walking – when it comes to protecting the heart.

The research, Wearable device-based health equivalence of different physical activity intensities against mortality, cardiometabolic disease and cancer, was undertaken folllowing a collaboration between the University of Sydney and Norwich Medical School at the University of East Anglia in the UK.

Our findings are in stark contrast to the widely-used current convention of a 1:2 ratio between vigorous and moderate intensity exercise

After assessing data from 73,000 adults using wearables, researchers found that each minute of vigorous intensity activity is roughly equivalent to four to nine minutes of moderate activity and 53–156 min of light intensity physical activity for all cause mortality and cardiometabolic outcomes.

The findings raise questions about the World Health Organization’s guidance that people should undertake 150–300 min of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, with WHO saying this is the equivalent to 75–150 min of vigorous physical activity. This assumes that vigorous exercise is only twice as beneficial as moderate exercise, rather than the four-times impact revealed by the research.

Time to recalibrate
“Our findings are in stark contrast to the widely used current convention of a 1:2 ratio between vigorous and moderate intensity, which was derived from self-reported data,” say the researchers. “Our work supports practitioners and future trials to establish more accurate exercise dosages and define options for prescribing physical activity prescription and personalised medicine initiatives.” 

More: www.hcmmag.com/WHOguidelines

New research brings WHO exercise guidlines into question
Latest News
Australia’s fast-growing fitness network, Viva Leisure, is adding a low-cost gym brand to its already ...
Latest News
Speedflex has launched a strength training programme for 10 to 16-year-olds, to make it safer, ...
Latest News
Tewinbury Farm Hotel in Hertfordshire, UK is expanding its premium leisure proposition with the launch ...
Latest News

Work is underway in Madrid on one of Europe’s most significant multi-functional complexes, ...

Latest News
PureGym is encouraging people to step away from their screens and go for a walk, ...
Latest News
Small improvements to sleep, diet quality, and physical activity, made in combination lead to a ...
Latest News
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions that measure 65,000sq m, will ...
Latest News
The Yard Gym (TYG) is to become Nike Training’s official global training partner in a ...
Latest News
Everlast Gyms' York site has reopened following a refurbishment to bring it up to the ...
Latest News
Luxury hospitality and wellness pioneer Jeremy McCarthy has launched Leisure Alchemy, a digital platform that ...
Latest News
A contrast therapy and breathwork facility called Reset has opened in Islington, London, in the ...
Opinion
promotion
Strength training has moved from the margins to the mainstream.
Opinion: Building smarter strength spaces for today’s operators
Featured supplier news
Featured supplier news: Elevate 2026 to mark 10-year anniversary with biggest ever waterfront drinks reception
Elevate is set to celebrate its 10th anniversary in style this June, with organisers confirming the event’s largest-ever drinks reception as registrations continue to run more than 10% ahead of last year.
Featured supplier news
Featured supplier news: Supporting long-term health: why whole body vibration belongs in clinical settings
As healthcare continues to shift towards prevention, there’s a growing focus on helping people stay active, independent and feeling good for longer.
Company profiles
Company profile: Epassi UK
For the last 23 years they have been on a mission to create a fitter, ...
Company profiles
Company profile: Wattbike
Wattbike’s mission is to make Wattbike the ultimate training partner for improving health and performance. ...
Supplier Showcases
Supplier Showcase - Future-proofing
Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
Featured press releases
ukactive press release: Are they Fit for Office? UK Active and Technogym throw down the gauntlet to MPs
Hundreds of staff, MPs and Peers from across Westminster have signed up for the Fit for Office parliamentary physical activity challenge, which takes place throughout June and is hosted by ukactive and Technogym.
Featured press releases
Innerva press release: Lex Leisure’s power-assisted exercise suite smashes targets in record time
Crook Log Leisure Centre has more than doubled the membership target for its new power- assisted exercise suite in less than six months.
Directory
Lockers
Crown Sports Lockers: Lockers
Water experiences and hydrotherapy solutions
Aquaform s.r.l.: Water experiences and hydrotherapy solutions
Industrial washing machines
Miele Company Limited: Industrial washing machines
Fitness tracking platform
SpiviTech: Fitness tracking platform
Hot tubs
MSpa International Ltd: Hot tubs
Spa and beauty equipment
Living Earth Crafts: Spa and beauty equipment
Property & Tenders
Stratford, East London.
Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
Property & Tenders
Y Felinheli, LL56 4QN
Newmark
Property & Tenders
Diary dates
13-13 Jun 2026
Worldwide, Various,
Diary dates
21-24 Sep 2026
The Langham Huntington Pasadena , Pasadena, United States
Diary dates
06-08 Oct 2026
Messe Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
Diary dates
22-22 Oct 2026
QEII Conference Centre, London,
Diary dates
26-29 Oct 2027
Koelnmesse Exhibition Centre, Cologne, Germany
Diary dates
Search news, features & products:
Find a supplier:
Elevate Arena
Elevate Arena
Partner sites