Even though previous studies have been shown the link between regular exercises and improved health the exact dose-response relation remains unclear. Guenther Samitz, researcher in physical activity and public health at the Centre for Sports Sciences and University Sports of the University of Vienna has investigated this relationship with a meta-study representing more than 1.3 million participants.
* Meeting the WHO´s recommended level of 150 minutes per week of moderate physical activity of daily life or during leisure was associated with a reduction in mortality risk by ten percent.
* Vigorous exercise and sports the reduction in mortality risk was more than twofold higher (22 %).
* 300 minutes (five hours) per week, this activity level is recommended for extended health benefits, were associated with a reduction in mortality risk by 19% and 39% for moderate-intensity activities of daily living, and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity and sports, respectively. But even for lower levels than recommended by the WHO the researchers observed a significant survival benefit.
FightingAging looked at exercise, longevity and long term medical costs
The tools for personal longevity will, I think, remain crude for the next couple of decades. Essentially, exercise, calorie restriction, and the avoidance of sharp things. Amazing things are happening in the labs, and we can clearly see how to extend life – but amazing in the lab doesn’t yet translate to available in the clinic, and won’t for a while. But even with these crude tools, barring genetic bad luck (or any of the other fatal forms of bad luck), the vast majority of us have a fair degree of control over our future health and medical budget.
Impact of walking on life expectancy and lifetime medical expenditure: the Ohsaki Cohort Study
Participants who walked more than 1 hour per day have a longer life expectancy from 40 years of age than participants who walked less than 1 hour per day. The multiadjusted life expectancy for those who walked over 1 hour per day was 44.81 years [they are already 40 and expect to live to 84.81], significantly lower by 1.38 years in men (p=0.0073) in men and 57.78 years in women, non-significantly lower by 1.16 years in women (p=0.2351). In addition to their longer life expectancy, participants who walked over 1 hour per day required a lower lifetime medical expenditure from 40 years of age than participants who walked less than 1 h per day. The multiadjusted lifetime medical expenditure for those who walked more than 1 h per day was £99 423.6, significantly lower by 7.6% in men (p=0.0048) and £128 161.2, non-significantly lower by 2.7% in women (p=0.2559).
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Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
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