Fitness

We know exercise is good, so why don't we do it?

Published

2 years ago

June 8, 2024

We know exercise is good, so why don't we do it?

Almost all of us, anywhere in the world, need to exercise more. It’s not something we don’t know, but there is good reason to remind people of the dangers of being inactive.

High blood pressure is a common global health issue that can often be deadly. More than a third of adults in the UAE suffer from high blood pressure – or hypertension – and a large percentage of people don’t even know it, which partially explains why it’s called a silent killer.

One in four men, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), have the condition. It can lead to multiple health crises, including strokes, heart attacks and kidney disease. The more encouraging news is that the condition can be prevented or reduced by eating a sensible diet, maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly.

Tireless workout at the Boot Camp Fitness Solutions during Ramadan in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

These lifestyle changes are often more difficult to accomplish on a long-term basis. But we can build healthy habits and exercise into our routines.

Let’s start by reminding ourselves of why we should all move more. The WHO recommends at least 150 minutes (about two and a half hours) of moderate exercise per week, but studies show that more than 80 per cent of adolescents and 27 per cent of adults globally fall short of this mark.

In the UAE, only one in five UAE school children achieve the recommended amount of physical activity. Sedentary lifestyles lead to chronic illnesses, including diabetes and heart disease and this is an issue parents need to take more seriously. More parents need to ensure that their children go out to play a sport for half an hour a day, at least.

At NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) we encourage students to prioritise and engage in their well-being so they may flourish in academics as well as in their extracurricular activities. All our undergraduate students are required to take two physical and health education courses. The benefits are evident.

People practice yoga in Abu Dhabi on June 21, 2022. AP

We’ve noticed a measurable improvement in more than just our students’ health and fitness thanks to a curriculum that focuses on the wider learning outcomes across four areas: physical activity, nutrition, mindfulness and sleep.

These are principles that we hope will stay with them for life. For starters, exercise does far more than help prevent disease. It triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals that can combat symptoms of anxiety and depression, which leads to improved mental clarity and focus.

Stressing the endocrine system spurs the body into regulating itself through better sleep and rest, to repair itself and grow new cells.

There are also many benefits of team sports, which offer a platform for social interaction and fostering a sense of belonging and community. This is especially important today, given the WHO reports a rise of over 25 per cent in depression and anxiety since 2020, affecting nearly a billion people globally.

The camaraderie of a group also counters loneliness, which is also on the rise and has been shown to be as damaging to physical health as smoking. Belonging to a team or a group provides a support system that can be invaluable – especially in a nation that hosts a diverse population, who all come from different backgrounds and are often away from family.

While exercising is a personal journey, there are steps that can help everyone.

The first is to reframe the language around exercise. Instead of focusing on weight loss as the sole motivation, there should be a celebration of the joy of movement.

People are advised to explore activities they genuinely enjoy – a brisk walk, a swim, a dance class or an outdoor game. Exercise is not solely for those seeking to lose weight. It should be a daily habit for everyone.

The usual advice is to start slowly and gradually increase intensity and duration. One should aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise most days of the week to get into a regular habit. Good habits are vital to success in any venture. Exercise can often have a positive effect on different aspects of life apart from physical fitness, whether work or relationships. People new to exercise will notice the increased energy they have, even at the workplace.

Group activities can add a layer of fun, so people of all ages could consider joining a local sports club or signing up for a community fitness event. There are many activities in Abu Dhabi that are accessible to people of all fitness levels and will appeal to those who are looking for alternatives to a gym workout.

Through Abu Dhabi Sports Council’s Abu Dhabi 360 initiative has a number of accessible runs or cycle rides such as the Al Qana Community Run and the MBZ Fun Ride. There are also a host of Active Parks initiatives and community events attached to the global sports events hosted in Abu Dhabi, such as the World Triathlon Championship Series and the UAE Tour.

Lotto-DSTNY's Belgian cyclist Lennert Van Eetvelt reacts after winning the 7th and last stage of the 6th UAE Cycling Tour on February 25. AFP — Lotto-DSTNY’s Belgian cyclist Lennert Van Eetvelt reacts after winning the 7th and last stage of the 6th UAE Cycling Tour on February 25. AFP

My personal preference for a fun approach to fitness is to use the cycle facilities at Yas Marina Circuit, the Corniche and Hudayriyat Island, plus the increasing cycling infrastructure across the city. In Abu Dhabi, there are options for fitness workouts for everyone.

I would also recommend signing up to a challenge, which helps keep one accountable. Setting a goal and share it often makes a person more likely to succeed and deal with demotivation.

Remember also that we are talking about well-being. That might mean getting out into nature, watching a sunset at the beach or sitting by the mangroves for a sense of calm.

Breathing exercises too are especially effective. Apart from movement and calories burnt, a focus on feeling good internally is important. This can help refocus, quiet the mind and reduce stress – all of which are necessary to improve the quality of life, reduce hypertension, as well as the burden on healthcare systems around the world.

Reframing the conversation around health and well-being starts with recognising that every step counts. It’s not about drastic changes but about integrating movement into the day. The goal is not just to avoid getting sick, but to increase well-being and transform our lives.

Published: June 06, 2024, 7:00 AM

Related Topics:fitness Health News medical research

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Fitness

Your Fitness: Learn about chest workouts with Gainesville Health & Fitness

Published

12 hours ago

February 16, 2026

Press Room

Your Fitness: Learn about chest workouts with Gainesville Health & Fitness

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – In this week’s edition of Your Fitness, Gainesville Health and Fitness trainer Adam Brandel shows you some different chest workouts you can do and different variations of the push-up.

For more information on these workouts and more, you can go a to the Gainesville Health and Fitness website HERE

RELATED: Your Fitness: Learn about group HIIT classes with Gainesville Health & Fitness

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Fitness

The Mini Stepper Is Going Viral for Being a Cheap and Effective Workout. Is It Worth the Hype?

Published

24 hours ago

February 15, 2026

Press Room

The Mini Stepper Is Going Viral for Being a Cheap and Effective Workout. Is It Worth the Hype?

Welcome to Start TODAY. Sign up for our Start TODAY newsletter to receive daily inspiration sent to your inbox — and join us on Instagram!

These days, it seems like TikTok is all about trying to sell you stuff that can make you slimmer and more attractive. As a health journalist, I’m generally skeptical about the diet and fitness products I encounter online, but when I saw account after account extolling mini steppers of various brands — cost effective, easy to do while watching TV and actually a good workout! — I decided to try it.

I’m lucky to have access to a gym in my building, and I enjoy running outside, as well as using my Peloton. So, I was mostly wondering if a mini stepper lurking in the corner of my living room would help me squeeze more movement into my evenings and weekends when I’d otherwise be catching up on “Vanderpump Rules.” The short answer is yes, it absolutely did, though I don’t think the mini stepper is a good fit for everyone.

Here’s what to know before buying your own.

What is a mini stepper?

Mini steppers are small workout machines that are conceptually similar to a StairMaster. You stand on the machine and move the pedals up and down, simulating climbing stairs. With some mini steppers, you can change the difficulty level by increasing the resistance of the steps or range of the pedals.

Mini steppers re-create the motion of climbing up stairs, so you can definitely work up a sweat using one.Tyler Essary / TODAY

Some steppers also have resistance bands so you can incorporate an arm workout. But for those that don’t, using a pair of handheld weights while you step should be quite effective, too.

The mini stepper I used for this review is made by Sunny Health & Fitness. It comes with resistance bands and a twistable knob to make stepping more difficult. By tightening the knob, you increase the angle of the pedals so it’s more strenuous to push them down.

The Sunny stepper also has a digital face that tracks the number of steps, calories burned and how long you’ve been working out. You can also use the SunnyFit app for workout inspiration.

Sunny Health & Fitness Total Body Smart 2-in-1 Stepper Machine

Is a mini stepper good for weight loss?

My goal with using a mini stepper was not to lose weight, so I didn’t track my progress in this way. But there are lots of people who’ve shared their experience online about losing weight with their mini steppers.

One mom of four said that she used it to walk either a mile or 30 minutes every day for 30 days and she lost over 5 pounds. Another TikToker posted that she was down 6 pounds after just two and a half weeks of 10,000 daily steps on her mini stepper.

Research also shows that climbing stairs is associated with lower body weight.

Does the mini stepper actually work?

The answer to this question depends on your fitness goals, but it worked for me for a few reasons:

I exercised more during the winter. When it’s cold and gets dark early, the last thing I want to do is leave my apartment, let alone go for a run outside. The mini stepper allowed me to exercise from the comfort of my living room, which set a great foundation for working out more when the weather got nicer.

It felt like a good workout. Climbing up stairs for 45 minutes to an hour without stopping is no joke. Some days, I was too tired to even use the resistance bands, that’s how serious of a workout it was. I definitely felt sore the next day, especially after the first few uses.

I built up muscle tone and endurance. I didn’t have a regular workout routine when I started using the mini stepper this past winter, so I could definitely see my arms, legs and glutes get more toned after a few weeks of using it.

I had fun. Let’s be honest: Most of us don’t actually enjoy working out — that’s why we try to distract ourselves while doing it. If you’re one of these people, the mini stepper is great because you can easily set it up in front of your TV, watch one episode of your favorite show and that’s your movement for the day.

photo of maura on a mini stepper — The mini stepper helped me discover a love for moving my body heading into the spring and summer.Tyler Essary / TODAY

How long should you walk on a mini stepper?

I would use my mini stepper for 30 minutes to an hour each time, and that felt like a pretty solid workout. It would take me about 45 minutes to do around 1,000 steps.

There are lots of mini stepper workout routines available online that range from 15 or 20 minutes to an hour. The SunnyFit app also has workout options of varying lengths for its 2-in-1 Smart Stepper.

To lose weight with walking, it’s generally recommended that you walk for 45 to 60 minutes a day, five to six days a week.

Pros of the mini stepper

I’ve already gotten into some of the pros of the mini-stepper, but here are a few more:

Super easy to do at home. I have a Peloton in my apartment, but the mini stepper still felt more approachable on days where I really didn’t want to work out.
Small and easy to store. Most at-home workout machines take up a lot of space, but not this one! As someone who’s run a lot on the treadmill and done a lot of spinning, I believe the space-to-quality-of-workout ratio for the mini stepper is the best.
Quiet. It definitely makes a little bit of noise, but it’s not anything your downstairs neighbors would be able to hear. It didn’t bother my dog too much, and he’s very excitable.
Good workout. I really did feel like my leg and arm muscles were burning, and if I made a conscious effort to try to step extra fast, I could definitely get winded.
Cost-effective. I think $80 is a pretty good deal for a space-efficient machine that delivers a good workout that you can do while multitasking or more intensely for a shorter period. It also feels pretty sturdy, given the price point.

Cons of the mini stepper

There were a few things that I didn’t love about my mini stepper:

Hard to coordinate. I found that there was a bit of a learning curve with figuring out how to step and use the resistance bands at the same time. I didn’t have as much trouble when using small dumbbells.
Balance issues. When I increased the angle of the pedals to make the workout harder, I occasionally found myself losing balance on the machine, which would wobble a little bit as a result.
Not a must-have if you have easy access to other machines. If you’re easily motivated to go to the gym or you already have another workout machine that you like in your home, I don’t think the mini stepper will add much to your routine, unless you’re looking for diversity or to try something new.

Should you get a mini stepper?

Based on my experience of using the mini stepper for a few months, I think it is a great option for people who are busy and easily find excuses not to workout.

Because you can keep the stepper in your home without taking up too much space and you can do other tasks while stepping, it’s a seamless way to start moving on a regular basis. Plus, it really does feel like a good workout, and many have said it can help with weight loss, if that’s your goal.

That said, I think people with a lot of fitness experience, or who enjoy going to the gym or using an existing machine in their home, like a treadmill or stationary bike, might get less out of the mini stepper.

Fitness

60 Sweat-Worthy Gifts for Seriously Active People

Published

1 day ago

February 15, 2026

Press Room

60 Sweat-Worthy Gifts for Seriously Active People

Tom Price is a reviews editor for Popular Mechanics while also contributing to Runner’s World, Best Products, and Bicycling. Here at Popular Mechanics, Tom loves testing out home appliances, smart tech, gear for city life and outdoor adventures, small gadgets like watches and multitools, and anything else you can find piled up at his hoarder’s nest of a desk.

Prior to working here, Tom attended NYU, graduating with a degree in English and a minor in creative writing. He also wrote for Best Reviews, The Daily Beast, and other publications covering tech, fitness gear, gadgets, and lifestyle products. Furthermore, he covered startup news, pop culture, and even professional wrestling. To follow more of his work, check back here for new stories.