Cardio exercise (regardless of intensity) will help to:
- Strengthen the muscles involved in respiration, to assist lung function.
- Increase the total number of red blood cells in the body, to enable greater oxygen facilitation throughout the body.
- Strengthen the heart muscle, which will improve resting heart and pumping efficiency.
- Reduce stress and tension, and increase mental well-being.
- Increase circulation throughout all areas of the body.
- Increase self-esteem.
| Activity | 15 min. | 30 min. | 45 min. | 60 min. |
| Aerobic dance | 171 | 342 | 513 | 684 |
| Basketball | 141 | 282 | 432 | 564 |
| Bicycling at 12 mph | 142 | 283 | 425 | 566 |
| Boxing | 165 | 330 | 495 | 660 |
| Circuit weight training | 189 | 378 | 576 | 756 |
| Cross-country skiing | 146 | 291 | 437 | 583 |
| Downhill skiing | 105 | 210 | 315 | 420 |
| Golf (carrying clubs) | 87 | 174 | 261 | 348 |
| In-line skating | 150 | 300 | 450 | 600 |
| Jumping rope, 60-80 skips/min. | 143 | 286 | 429 | 572 |
| Karate, tae kwon do | 180 | 360 | 540 | 720 |
| Kayaking | 75 | 150 | 225 | 300 |
| Racquetball | 114 | 228 | 342 | 456 |
| Rowing machine | 104 | 208 | 310 | 415 |
| Running 10-minute miles | 183 | 365 | 548 | 731 |
| Ski machine | 141 | 282 | 423 | 564 |
| Slide | 152 | 304 | 456 | 608 |
| Swimming freestyle, 35 yds/min. | 124 | 248 | 371 | 497 |
| Tennis, singles | 116 | 232 | 348 | 464 |
| Tennis, doubles | 43 | 85 | 128 | 170 |
| VersaClimber, 100 ft./min. | 188 | 375 | 563 | 750 |
| Walking, 20-minute miles, flat | 60 | 120 | 180 | 240 |
| Walking, 20-minute miles, hills | 81 | 162 | 243 | 324 |
| Water aerobics | 70 | 140 | 210 | 280 |