6 days ago
New Study Finds That Moving More Could Cut Your Risk Of Dying By 40 Percent—And It's Not Too Late To Start
A new study found a strong link between physical activity and lower mortality risk.
Specifically, physically active people saw a 30 to 40 percent lower risk of dying from any cause compared to their less active counterparts.
Here's what you need to know about the study, according to experts.
Next time you're struggling to haul yourself off the couch for a workout, consider this: Getting up and moving could quite literally help save your life.
A new scientific analysis published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found a clear and significant link between being physically active and a lower risk of dying from any cause. Even better, the researchers discovered that there were life-extending perks to taking up exercise at any point in your life. Doctors say there are a few reasons why this link exists. Here's everything you need to know about the new study.
Meet the experts: Gregore Iven Mielke, PhD, study co-author and senior lecturer at The University of Queensland School of Public Health; Bert Mandelbaum, MD, sports medicine specialist and co-director of the Regenerative Orthobiologic Center at Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics in Los Angeles; Dawn Warner Kershner, DO, a cardiologist with The Heart Center at Mercy in Baltimore, Maryland; Jennifer Wong, MD, cardiologist and medical director of Non-Invasive Cardiology at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California
What did the study find?
For the study, researchers analyzed data from 85 studies that looked at the impact of physical activity on health and risk of dying. They discovered that higher levels of physical activity was linked with lower risks of dying from any cause during the study periods.
Overall, active people had around a 30 to 40 percent lower risk of dying from any cause during the study period compared to their less active counterparts. People who increased their amount of physical activity from below the recommended amount had a 20 to 25 percent lower risk of death from any cause compared to those who stayed inactive.
The researchers found the strongest links between physical activity and cardiovascular disease, but there were also benefits for cancer risk. People who were consistently active were around 40 percent less likely to die from cardiovascular disease and 25 percent less likely to die from cancer.
'These reductions in risk, particularly the 30 to 40 percent decrease in all-cause mortality, are even greater than what previous studies have suggested,' says Gregore Iven Mielke, PhD, study co-author and senior lecturer at The University of Queensland School of Public Health. 'This highlights that physical activity may play an even more critical role in long-term health than previously thought.'
How does being physically active lower your risk of death by any cause?
'Physical activity or regular exercise has multiple benefits to prevent death from any cause,' says Dawn Warner Kershner, DO, a cardiologist with The Heart Center at Mercy in Baltimore, Maryland. Among other things, she points out that it helps prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes, which are significant risk factors for heart disease.
Physical activity can also lower blood pressure, decrease inflammation in the body, and improve the amount of lipids (fat) in the blood, says Jennifer Wong, MD, cardiologist and medical director of Non-Invasive Cardiology at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. 'All of those improve overall cardiovascular health,' she says.
Regular exercise also boosts mental health and lowers the risk of cognitive decline, Dr. Kershner says. 'I prescribe regular physical activity as an important part of the successful aging process,' she adds.
Dr. Kershner isn't the only doctor who does this. 'Exercise is probably the most robust drug that we have,' says Bert Mandelbaum, MD, sports medicine specialist and co-director of the Regenerative Orthobiologic Center at Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics in Los Angeles. 'It leads to longevity.'
What constitutes being 'physically active'?
The researchers focused on recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) which suggests getting 150 to 300 minutes a week of moderate-intensity physical activity a week, or 75 to 150 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity activity.
How often should I work out to reap the health and longevity benefits?
Mielke says the benefits tend to appear when people dial into consistency. 'The total accumulation of physical activity, regardless of frequency or even intensity, can be beneficial,' he says. 'For example, some of our previous studies, particularly those focused on women, have shown that the overall amount of physical activity accumulated over time appears to be more important than the specific pattern of accumulation when it comes to preventing conditions like hypertension and obesity.'
Overall, he recommends being active in a way that works with your lifestyle. That can mean doing structured workouts daily or exercising a few days a week. 'That can contribute to long-term health,' he says.
Do I get the same longevity benefits if I start working out later in life?
Yup! The researchers found that individuals who became physically active later in life had "about a 25 percent lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to those who remained inactive,' Mielke says.
So, if you're not currently as active as you'd like to be, fear not! You can still reap the benefits that come from ramping up your activity level now. 'There are longevity benefits to exercise and physical activity at every stage of life,' Dr. Kershner says. 'It is never too late to start.'
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