FAQ - Best Aerobic Activity

Judy, you asked the question “which is the best overall aerobic activity for the human body, and is this activity age dependant?”


Before answering that question, allow me to point out that, in deciding the “best” activitiy or exercise especially for the general population, apart from the purely physiological effect of the activity, 2 things must also be considered:
i) accessiblity
ii) skill level required

As an example, the Army assault course is one of the most effective activity both for aerobic and overall fitness, but access to such facilities are very limited for us the general population. So in that sense I cannot say its the best activity for the general population.

Swimming is also touted as a very effective aerobic activity, but to get the exercise effect from swimming one must reach a certain level of skill to enjoy and thus maintain doing it long enough (not to mention to stay afloat!). Not many people in Malaysia , especially among the bumiputera populace, have the desire to reach that level of skill, maybe because of cultural issues. It should be noted also that swimming does not assist that much in preventing osteoporosis.

Taking those 2 issues into consideration, the best overall aerobic activity is brisk walking. Its one activity that can be done by more than 90% of the population because its VERY “accessible” (you can do it virtually anywhere) and need virtually NO SKILL, if at all (as long as you can walk, then you have the required “skill”). The average person actually do not have any excuse not to do it.

And yes, it is NOT age dependent. Anybody who can walk, whatever the age, can do it. Of course, we wold expect the younger people to be able to walk at a faster pace or move up to the next level to jog or run, but the basis is still walking.

However, please note that the main word here is “brisk” - brisk walking. Leisurely walk or just sauntering along will not have the same aerobic effect. Your pace must be fast enough such, if you are walking with a partner, that you can only utter a few words of greetings or short conversations. But if you find that you are able to indulge in serious animated discussions or hearty joking while you walk, then you are not walking brisk enough to have aerobic effect