What Is Moderate Exercise? (USA)

What exactly is moderate exercise? A new study suggests the much-touted moderate-intensity walk should translate to about 100 steps per minute, or 3,000 steps in 30 minutes. Federal exercise recommendations call for Americans to get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise for optimal health. And some studies have suggested that moderate-intensity exercise - like walking - may be just as beneficial as more vigorous exercise. "This presents a challenge because health benefits are dependent on the intensity of activity, yet there are few valid and reliable monitoring tools available to the public that are affordable and easy to use," researchers write in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. In their study, researchers sought to translate the moderate-exercise recommendations into easily achievable targets that could be measured using a common pedometer. - WebMD