• If Americans over 40 walked as much every day as the most physically active members of the population, they could extend their life expectancy by at least five years, according to a new study.

• According to the predictive model, the least physically active 25% of the population have the most to gain: for every hour of walking they do, they can extend their lives by around 6 hours.

• Although the study may have limitations since it was based on existing data from parts of the U.S. population, the results are consistent with the known health benefits of physical activity, experts say.

If Americans over 40 walked as much each day as the most physically active members of the population, they could extend their life expectancy by at least 5 years, according to a new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found.

Using a predictive model based on national health data and census information, the study authors found that the 25% of the population most active in terms of physical activity generate the equivalent of 160 per day minutes of walking at almost 3 miles per hour.

Achieving this level of activity, for the least physically active members of the population, could add an additional 11 years to their life expectancy.

According to the predictive model, the least physically active 25% of the population have the most to gain: for every hour of walking they do, they can extend their lives by around 6 hours.

Ryan Glatt, CPT, NBC-HWCsenior brain health coach and director of the FitBrain program at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., who was not involved in the study, said Medical news today that walking reduces the risk of mortality at all activity levels.

“The benefits are most significant for inactive people, because even a small increase in physical activity significantly reduces the risk of noncommunicable diseases and premature death,” Glatt said.

Study confirms link between exercise and longevity

The study is observational and draws on a 2019 U.S. population life table, 2017 mortality information, and physical activity data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2003 to 2006.

This does not imply cause and effect, but the general health benefits of daily physical activity are well known, and its absence can lead to many mental and physical health problems.

Christophe Schneble, MDsaid a Yale Medicine sports medicine physician and assistant professor of orthopedics and rehabilitation at the Yale School of Medicine, who also was not involved in the study. MNT that while the study may be limited due to its focus on existing data sets, the results are consistent with what is well established about physical activity and health.

“The results align well with several concepts that we already know to be true from previous studies on how physical activity levels are related to health and mortality risk,” Schneble said.

“I think this study provides further evidence, despite its limitations, that moving from a sedentary lifestyle to a more physically active lifestyle results in a significant reduction in mortality risk, and as the level of activity increases, risk reduction also increases.”

How could walking prolong life?

Schneble explained that regular exercise clearly benefits our bodies compared to a primarily sedentary lifestyle. And walking is accessible to almost everyone, making it a simple and powerful tool for healthy living.

He told us that:

“As cardiovascular disease is a primary cause of mortality in the elderly (mainly the ages included in this study), it is not very surprising that a reduction in these risk factors can then lead to a reduction in cardiovascular mortality. , and therefore all causes combined. mortality,” he added.

Glatt further explained that other forms of exercise may be more intimidating or difficult for people who are not typically physically active. But the overall benefits of walking are enormous, he noted.

“Walking differs from running or weight training in its lower intensity and accessibility, which makes it particularly effective for sedentary people. While running and strength training target different physiological systems, such as cardiovascular or musculoskeletal health, walking is easier to maintain and offers significant benefits in terms of life expectancy without the obstacles often associated with more intense exercises,” Glatt said.

Is it ever too late to enjoy the benefits of walking?

“There is no specific age limit for enjoying the benefits of walking,” Glatt said. “Even people who start walking later in life can see significant improvements in their health and life expectancy, although the magnitude of the benefits may depend on pre-existing health conditions. However, previously inactive individuals tend to experience the largest relative gains.

Schneble explained that viewing physical activity as wasted effort later in life would be a mistake, if only because it can improve many elements of life, but also eliminate the risks associated with aging.

“I think it will be difficult to personally recognize the benefits, because in a sense, these would be events that never happened; things like a heart attack, stroke, or broken hip that never happened. I could say that the most important thing is to try to maintain the highest level of fitness possible, regardless of age,” Schneble told us.

“As we age, our reserve tends to decrease, as does our maximum achievable fitness level. If we condition ourselves, we can place ourselves at a much better level of health that will better protect us from some of the modifiable perils that inevitably accompany aging. Just because the decision to focus on improving one’s health didn’t come at the ideal time to maximize things doesn’t mean there aren’t still substantial benefits to be had,” he said. he concluded.

See the original article on Medical news today