Washington D.C: If you are the type of person who wants to shed those extra kilos, but gets tired just thinking about the workout, boy, does science have good news for you: You can be fit in just 60 seconds!

Researchers at McMaster University have found that a single minute of very intense exercise produces health benefits similar to longer, traditional endurance training.

"This is a very time-efficient workout strategy," says lead author Martin Gibala. "Brief bursts ofintense exercise are remarkably effective."

Scientists set out to determine how sprint interval training (SIT) compared to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), as recommended in public health guidelines.

They examined key health indicators including cardiorespiratory fitness and insulin sensitivity, a measure of how the body regulates blood sugar.