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Most government and health organisations claim we should be doing 150 minutes of exercise each week.

But a new study argues that figure is wildly inaccurate, and claims we should be doing over an hour of exercise each day.

The research contradicts the view that prolonged and intense exercise is harmful, and instead claims it could add years to someone's life.

Most government and health organisations claim we should be doing 150 minutes of exercise each week. But a new study argues that figure is inaccurate, and claims we should be doing over an hour of exercise each day.

The finding was made by a group of researchers, led by Harvard University, who looked at data on exercise habits for 661,000 adults, many of them middle-aged.

According to the New York Times, the researchers divided the adults into groups based on their weekly exercise time and compared 14 years' worth of death records for the group.

Those who did not exercise at all were at the highest risk of early death. While people who exercised even a small amount, lowered their risk by 20 per cent.

Study participants who met the guidelines of 150 minutes per week were 31 per cent less risk of dying during the 14-year period compared with those who never exercised.

But people who walked for 450 minutes per week – more than an hour a day – had 39 per cent less chance of dying prematurely.

A study by Harvard University in Massachusetts found that people who exercised for 450 minutes per week – more than an hour a day – had 39 per cent less chance of dying prematurely

People who increased their exercise levels by 10 times or more the recommended exercise amount reduced their mortality risk by the same amount as those who spent hours at the gym.

A separate study of 200,000 Australian adults found that those who spend 30 per cent of their weekly exercise time in intense work outs were nine per cent less likely to die early.

People who spent more than 30 per cent of their exercise time in strenuous gym sessions had a 13 per cent reduction in early mortality.

Anyone who is physically capable of activity should try to 'reach at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week and have around 20 to 30 minutes of that be vigorous activity,' Klaus Gebel, a senior research fellow at James Cook University in Cairns, Australia, told New York Times.

He added that doing more exercise than recommended, for those able to do so, is not dangerous.

THE EXERCISE THAT CAN PREDICT HOW SOON YOU WILL DIE 

The simple exercise of sitting down and standing up again without holding onto anything, could suggest how long you have to live. This diagram shows how to take the 'sitting rising test'

The simple exercise of sitting down and standing up again without holding onto anything, could suggest how long you have to live.

This is the belief of a group of physicians at Gama Filho University in Brazil, who came up with the 'sitting-rising test' to measure their patients' flexibility and strength.

Do not attempt if you have arthritis or are worried the exercise may cause you injury.

Wearing comfortable clothes and no shoes, make sure you have plenty of space around you. Lower yourself into a cross-legged sitting position, without leaning on anything.

Stand up again without using your hands, knees or arms to push yourself up. Get someone to score you, take the test in front of a mirror to notice any wobbles or 'cheats'.

The first part of the test –sitting down – is scored out of five, as is the second part –standing up – making a total score of 10. 

Subtract one point every time you use a hand or knee for support. Dock half a point every time you noticeably lose balance and wobble and combine them to calculate your final score.

The study found that every point increase in the test, was linked to a 21 per cent decrease in mortality from all causes.