Why Intensity Is The Key To Health And Fitness Less than 40 per cent of Australians achieve the minimum amount of physical activity recommended by government and professional organisations. This contributes to the fact 60 per cent of Australians are overweight or obese . Exercise and Sports Science Australia (and similar organisations overseas) recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise most days of the week, adding up to 150 minutes a week. The most commonly reported barrier to reaching these targets is a perceived lack of time. So it's important to maximise the benefits of exercise in what little spare time we have. But how can we get the most out of our exercise sessions? And is there a way to get enough exercise to stay healthy without spending 150 minutes a week? HIIT it Over the past few years, a number of laboratories have shown that High Intensity Interval Training (commonly known as HIIT) can provide similar -- if not greater -- health and fitness benefits as traditional exercise approaches. HIIT incorporates repeated bursts of intense exercise interspersed with periods of rest. But it should be pointed out that, while HIIT is likely to improve overall metabolism, when it comes to fat burning and blood glucose control with minimal weight loss , calorie restriction through dieting is still the best way to lose body weight. Most HIIT studies are performed on a bike, although some of the aerobic studies have been performed on a treadmill. Essentially, from