Swedish public health authorities recommend between 150 and 300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week. According to the authorities' guidelines, all movement counts, News55 reports.
This means that practical tasks in and around the home can form part of your weekly exercise. This is according to Ditta Valsdottir, associate professor of exercise physiology and nutrition at Kristiania University College, as reported by Svenska Dagbladet.
Professor Elling Bere from the University of Agder has measured how hard the body works while baking bread. When he kneaded the dough vigorously, the measurements showed that he reached a level considered vigorous physical activity.
Calories burned at home
Figures based on tables from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization show that 30 minutes of vacuuming can burn between 99 and 166 calories.
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Half an hour of mowing the lawn or gardening can burn between 135 and 200 calories. A brisk walk with the dog can burn between 150 and 222 calories.
However, according to Svenska Dagbladet, Valsdottir points out that we often overestimate how much time we spend on these kinds of activities.
Awareness can make a difference
An interesting finding came from a study involving 84 hotel housekeepers. They were divided into two groups, but neither group changed their work routines.
One group was told that their work met the recommendations for physical activity. The other group received only general information about physical activity.
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After four weeks, the informed group had lost an average of one kilogram.
The group also had lower blood pressure and smaller waist measurements. The study, published in Psychological Science, showed that awareness that ordinary physical work counts as exercise was associated with measurable changes.
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This article is made and published by Ida-Marie Palm Varbæk, who may have used AI in the preparation.