In fact, the intensity and the duration of such activities may be contributing more to your cardio-respiratory fitness than you might think.

`It`s encouraging to know that if we just increase our incidental activity slightly -- a little bit more work around the house, or walking down the hall to speak with a co-worker... we can really benefit our health in the long-term,` says Ashlee McGuire, who led the study.

Overcoming barriers to physical activity

McGuire, who is a graduate student at the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Canada, adds: `Best of all, these activities don`t take up a lot of time, they`re not difficult to do, and you don`t have to go to a gym,` reports the journal of the American College of Sports Medicine.

McGuire and fellow researcher Robert Ross, professor at the School of Kinesiology, define incidental physical activity (IPA) as activity accruing from doing housework, climbing stairs or walking around the office, according to a Kinesiology statement.

Source IANS
Image: Flickr/creativecommons Debs