Inactivity has been dubbed the biggest public health problem of the 21st century. The latest reports suggest that around the world it was responsible for 5.3 million deaths in 2008 – around one in 10 – more deaths than smoking.
Not only does exercise make you fitter, it can also ward off numerous and often unexpected diseases, from heart attacks, to diabetes, some forms of cancer and dementia. There are tentative signs it might even make you cleverer, by boosting cognitive performance and brain function.
Latest government guidelines recommend adults under 65 should do 150 minutes of moderate physical activity every week, in bouts of at least 10 minutes. Worryingly, only a fraction of the population manages even that. In the UK just 14% of adults exercise regularly.
However, a growing number of sports scientists advocate brief intensive training sessions to achieve the same health gains. The latest class to hit London's is called Tabata,
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