It’s good news for those who don’t like playing sport or going to the gym, says new research from the University of Sydney. Just three to four one-minute bursts of huffing and puffing during daily tasks cuts down the risk of premature death. Published in ‘Nature Medicine’, it is the first to accurately measure the health benefits of ‘vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity’ or VILPA. VILPA is the very short bouts of vigorous activity (up to one or two minutes) we do with gusto each day, like running for the bus, bursts of power walking while doing errands or playing high-energy games with the kids. The researchers have found that just three to four one-minute bouts of VILPA every day is associated with up to 40% reduction in all-cause and cancer-related mortality, and up to a 49% reduction in death related to cardiovascular disease.