A NEW study has highlighted the cardiovascular health benefits of incidental physical activity (IPA), offering valuable insight for individuals who do not engage in regular structured exercise. IPA includes non-leisure movements embedded in daily life, such as housework, active commuting, or brisk walking for errands. In a large-scale analysis of UK adults, researchers found that even small amounts of vigorous or moderate-intensity incidental activity were significantly associated with lower risks of cardiovascular events and mortality. Notably, just four to five minutes of vigorous incidental activity per day was linked to markedly reduced health risks.
The study analysed 24,139 non-exercising participants from the UK Biobank accelerometry substudy, with a mean age of 61.9 years, over an average follow-up of 7.9 years. Using wrist-worn accelerometers and a validated machine-learning classifier, researchers quantified daily durations and intensities of incidental activity, categorised into vigorous (VIPA), moderate (MIPA), and light (LIPA) levels. Participants with any engagement in VIPA or MIPA were evaluated for associations with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), cardiovascular (CVD) mortality, and all-cause mortality.
Results showed that IPA volume had an L-shaped relationship with outcomes, with the lowest risk seen at approximately 35–38 kJ/kg/day of energy expenditure. Hazard ratios [HRs] for MACE, CVD mortality, and all-cause mortality at this level were 0.49 (95% CI: 0.39–0.61), 0.33 (95% CI: 0.22–0.52), and 0.31 (95% CI: 0.25–0.38) respectively. Median durations of 4.6 minutes/day of VIPA and 23.8 minutes/day of MIPA were associated with 38% and 50% lower risk of CVD mortality. LIPA showed weaker associations, with statistical significance only at durations exceeding 130 minutes/day. Importantly, 1 minute of VIPA was found to provide a similar benefit to approximately 3.4 minutes of MIPA or 35–49 minutes of LIPA, depending on the outcome measured.
These findings reinforce the clinical value of encouraging incidental movement in daily life, especially for individuals unable or unwilling to commit to formal exercise. Even brief bursts of unplanned, higher-intensity activity, such as climbing stairs or brisk walking, can meaningfully reduce cardiovascular risk. Limitations include observational design, potential residual confounding, and reliance on activity estimates from wrist-based monitors. However, the implications for public health messaging and preventive cardiology are compelling, suggesting that “exercise snacking” embedded in daily routines could serve as a practical and scalable intervention.
Reference
Stamatakis E. Dose Response of Incidental Physical Activity Against Cardiovascular Events and Mortality. Circulation. 2025;151(15):1063–75
