If people aged 40 and over adopted the activity levels of the richest 25 percent of the population, they could potentially extend their lives by 5.3 years on average, a new study reveals. The research, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicinehighlights that physical activity is a crucial factor in preventing premature deaths, with findings indicating that increased physical activity could rival the benefits of combating smoking and high blood pressure.

Dr. Lennert Veerman, professor of public health at the School of Medicine and Dentistry at Griffith University in Australia, told CNN: “I was surprised to find that the loss of years of life in the States -United due to low levels of physical activity could rival that of years of life. losses due to smoking and high blood pressure.

The study methodology involved examining physical activity data from participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which took place between 2003 and 2006. The data was collected from older adults aged 40 and over who wore accelerometers to track their activity levels. This data was then compared to 2017 mortality statistics to predict the potential benefits of higher activity levels on life expectancy.

For people in the lowest quartile for physical activity, the study predicted a 5.8 year loss in life expectancy. But for people as active as the top quartile, life expectancy could increase by an average of 5.3 years, bringing the expected lifespan to 83.7 years.

The findings also suggest that people in the least active group, who typically engage in only 49 minutes of moderate activity per day, could extend their lives by up to 11 years with an additional 111 minutes of daily physical activity.

Despite the results, some experts caution against interpreting the study’s findings definitively. Dr. Peter Katzmarzyk of Louisiana State University noted that the study relies on existing data and estimates, which could overestimate the potential benefits, especially as physical activity levels increase. have improved in the United States since the data collection period.

But Katzmarzyk highlighted the strong link between inactivity and the development of life-threatening illnesses such as “heart disease, stroke, diabetes and several cancers,” and added: “Being physically active reduces the risk of developing these diseases and die from them. »

The World Health Organization recommends that adults get at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week. Yet, as the study shows, even smaller increases in activity can have lasting health benefits.