Training According to new research, 25% of Americans, like the most active, can help people over 40 add an average of five extra years to their lives.
In the study, published Thursday in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers created a predictive model to estimate the impact of different levels of physical activity on life expectancy using data on people who were at least 40 years old from the National Health and Human Services Institute. Nutritional Examination. Survey and other sources.
Although it was an observational study, which does not prove cause and effect, the findings suggest that an increased focus on physical activity may pay off. in terms of the longevity of Americans.
“Our findings suggest that (physical activity) provides significantly greater health benefits than previously thought, which is due to the use of more accurate ways to measure (it),” the authors wrote.
So how much should you exercise to reap the potential benefits? The total physical activity of the most active 25% of Americans was equivalent to 160 minutes of walking at a normal pace, or about 5 kilometers per hour, every day, according to the study.
If all Americans over age 40 matched this level of activity, life expectancy at birth would increase from 78.6 years to nearly 84 years, an increase of about five years in the average lifespan.
If the least active Americans committed to walking an extra 111 minutes each day, the effects would be even more dramatic, the estimates show — adding nearly 11 years to the average lifespan.
This isn’t the first time research has highlighted health benefits of walking.
A survey from last year The same journal shows that walking for just 11 minutes a day can significantly reduce the risk of stroke, heart disease and some cancers.
Other viral fitness trends such as the “hot girl walk” And “farting” have also encouraged Americans to lace up their walking shoes for a number of positive health benefits.
