What is the most appropriate lifestyle advice for this patient to reduce cardiovascular risk?

• A. Participate in at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week
• B. Engage in daily high-intensity workouts lasting 60 minutes
• C. Eliminate all fat from the diet immediately
• D. Ignore physical activity and focus only on diet

Answer: (A)

Regular moderate-intensity aerobic activity is a key habit to lower cardiovascular risk. A target of at least 150 minutes per week provides proven benefits for blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose control, weight management, and overall heart health. This amount is achievable for many adults and can be split into convenient sessions, such as 30 minutes on five days, using activities like brisk walking, cycling, or swimming. Pairing this with some resistance training on other days can enhance benefits further.

Daily high-intensity workouts lasting 60 minutes can be too demanding for many people and may increase injury risk or lead to burnout, making them less sustainable as a general recommendation. Eliminating all fat from the diet is not appropriate either, since fats are essential and the focus should be on choosing healthy fats and overall balance rather than total elimination. Ignoring physical activity and concentrating only on diet misses a major modifiable factor in cardiovascular risk reduction.

So, aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week is the best-supported, practical strategy to reduce cardiovascular risk.