yes;

they can, but it will depend on your body and your objectives.

High-intensity exercise, such as HIIT (high-intensity interval training), is intended to increase your heart rate fast with bursts of activity. Research indicates that they can enhance cardiovascular health, burn calories, and even increase metabolism in a shorter time than an old-fashioned workout. For busy individuals, that’s a significant advantage—you may reap equivalent benefits from 20 minutes of HIIT as you do from one hour of continuous jogging.

That being said, they’re not an ideal replacement for everyone. Longer, less intense workouts such as walking, cycling, or swimming are kinder on the joints and more endurance-friendly. HIIT can also be too strenuous for newcomers or people with certain medical issues.

Consider this: brief, intense workouts are like a robust cup of coffee—fast, powerful, and invigorating—while longer workouts are like a leisurely, sustaining meal. Both are useful, and the “correct” one depends on your lifestyle, fitness, and what feels maintainable for you.