Late-Started Sports Participation Still Lowers Mortality Risk
A groundbreaking study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has highlighted the significant benefits of regular exercise in reducing the risk of premature death, cardiovascular diseases, and certain types of cancer. The study, led by Ruyi Yu and Gregore Mielke from the School of Public Health at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, has underscored the importance of maintaining or adopting consistent physical activity habits to improve longevity and reduce disease burden.
The research, which examined how physical activity reduces the risk of death from various causes, found that regular exercise can lower the risk of early death by up to 40%. Even those who start exercising later in life can reduce their mortality risk by 20-25%.
One of the key findings was the reduction in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. Exercise was found to reduce CVD mortality by 30-40%. A dose-response relationship was discovered, where engaging in about 8.75 mMET hours/week (a measure of exercise intensity and duration) led to a 27% lower risk of total cardiovascular disease and a 21% lower risk of coronary heart disease specifically.
Regular exercise was also associated with a 12% lower risk of total cancer. Some cancers, such as head and neck cancer, myeloid leukemia, myeloma, and gastric cardia cancer, showed a 22-35% lower risk with this level of physical activity. The risk reduction was smaller for cancers like lung, liver, endometrial, colon, and breast cancers, ranging from 5 to 16% lower risk.
The benefits of exercise were found to accumulate and persist even if exercise was performed years or decades earlier, though further research is needed in this area. The study also emphasized that these benefits are independent of genetic risk factors for longevity, making regular exercise beneficial for older adults.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity activity weekly, with 75-150 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity also suggested. A combination of both moderate and vigorous-intensity activities is recommended. The WHO states that physical activity, especially of moderate to vigorous intensity, is particularly effective against cardiovascular diseases.
The study, which analyzed 85 studies that assessed physical activity at two or more time points, underscores the importance of adopting a more active lifestyle at any point in adulthood to extend lifespan. Despite potential inaccuracies in subjective estimates, the researchers emphasize the significance of their findings for public health. The authors conclude that adopting a more active lifestyle at any point in adulthood can extend lifespan.
In summary, regular physical exercise significantly lowers the risk of premature death, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers. The study underscores the importance of maintaining or adopting consistent physical activity habits to improve longevity and reduce disease burden. It's never too late to start exercising to gain substantial health benefits.
The study emphasizes the role of fitness-and-exercise in health-and-wellness, particularly in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer. In accordance with the World Health Organization's recommendations, adopting a more active lifestyle, incorporating both moderate- and vigorous-intensity activities, can extend lifespan and improve overall science and health.
