Modest exercise prevents the progressive disease associated with physical inactivity.

Activity levels continue to decline as technology continues to engineer movement out of our environment. We summarize the findings from Studies Targeting Risk Reduction Interventions through Defined Exercise (STRRIDE) emphasizing the high cost of even short-term continued inactivity in sedentary, overweight, or mildly obese individuals. There seems to be a critical minimal level of physical activity required to maintain metabolic health. A modest amount of exercise seems to prevent metabolic deterioration.