Well, the short answer is yes…when it comes to the health benefits of exercise, then some physical activity is absolutely better than no activity. In fact, so much so that "make exercise a lifestyle" really needs to be a priority.
In a study of 35 healthy men and women, researchers found that many of the benefits they gained during a 13-week exercise program were lost over the course of one month of cessation of the program. This included strength gains, body fat percentage, and measures of heart health. However, the most important to note is that it only took one week for participants to lose the improvements in their blood pressure and cholesterol! This indicates that to keep your cardiovascular risk factors low, you need to maintain physical activity and make it a lifestyle. So returning to the answer to the question, yes some exercise is better than being sedentary when it comes to exercise and health. Upper and lower body strength gains also decreased progressively the month after completing the program. The good news is that the study did show us that 20-30 minute resistance training workouts just 2-3 times per week was enough to see fitness improve!
If staying consistent with exercise sounds easier said than done, here are some tips on how to make fitness work for you.