The key to living longer.
A recent study suggests that increasing physical activity after the age of 40 could lead to a significant extension in life expectancy. The research found that individuals who raise their activity levels to match the top 25% of their peers could gain an average of five additional years of life. This finding is based on data collected from U.S. health surveys and death records between 2003 and 2019, which were analyzed by researchers at Griffith University in Australia.
The study’s authors were surprised by the scale of the health benefits, noting that physical activity provided far greater advantages than they had initially expected. The research showed that the top 25% of active individuals were those who engaged in approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes of moderate walking each day (at a pace of 3 miles per hour). If everyone over the age of 40 could reach this level of activity, the average life expectancy could increase from 78.6 to almost 84 years.
For individuals already in the lowest activity quartile, the benefits were even more pronounced. By increasing their physical activity to match the top 25%, they could add nearly 11 years to their lives. Achieving this would require adding about 111 minutes of moderate walking per day, which may be challenging for some. Nevertheless, the researchers emphasized that even small increases in physical activity could lead to significant health improvements, with each additional hour of walking linked to an increase in lifespan.
While the study observed an association between physical activity and longer life, it did not prove direct causation. The researchers suggested that changes in community-level infrastructure, such as creating more walkable neighborhoods and providing accessible green spaces, could help encourage higher levels of physical activity and, by extension, healthier life expectancy. The study’s findings were published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine on November 14.
These results highlight the importance of physical activity in maintaining long-term health, particularly as people age. By implementing policies and creating environments that support active lifestyles, society could potentially improve public health outcomes and significantly increase the quality and longevity of life for individuals over 40.
Discussion about this post