HEALTH
How Exercise Timing Can Boost Brain Power
Thu Jun 26 2025
Exercise is great for the body and mind, but how much and when you do it matters. The usual way to think about exercise is by looking at how often, how hard, how long, and what kind of activity you do. This is called the FITT principle. But there's more to it.
Density is a new factor to consider. It's about how you space out your exercise sessions and the breaks you take in between. For example, taking short breaks during a workout or having a rest day between intense sessions can make a difference. This idea comes from German exercise science and is called Belastungsdichte.
Let's talk about brain health. Exercise can help keep your brain sharp. But how often you exercise and how you time your workouts might be just as important. If you do all your exercise in one go, your brain might not get the same benefits as if you spread it out.
Researchers are still figuring out the best ways to use density in exercise plans. They need to study more to understand how it affects health. But adding density to the FITT principle could give us a better picture of how exercise helps the body and mind.
So, next time you plan your workout, think about not just how much you do, but also when you do it. Your brain will thank you!
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questions
How can researchers ensure that the density variable is not overemphasized at the expense of other important FITT components?
Will fitness trackers need a new update to include a 'density meter'?
If density is so important, should we start charging people for the time they spend resting between workouts?
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