Short bursts of exercise good for short people.

Researchers from the University of Exeter followed around a bunch of boys, aged 8-10, for seven days and discovered that ones who had sporadic bursts of activity were just as healthy as the ones doing longer, sustained exercise programs.

The study, published in the International Journal of Pediatric Obesity, concluded that kids should be allowed to do what they do naturally and not have exercise programs foisted on them because, well, ten-year-old-boys do not care for hour-long Jazzersize classes. I speak from experience. Horrible, masculinity-crushing experience.

I'd also like to point out that your physiology isn't all that different from a kid's physiology, so maybe a few bursts of exercise would benefit you, too. In other words, take the stairs, not the elevator.

Thanks to Science Blog for the heads up on this study.