Study upon study continues to show that regular exercise is a key factor in extending one’s lifespan. Not only does exercise help maintain the health and function of your cardiovascular system, but it also bolsters the immune system, reducing your chances of suffering a premature death due to illness. These studies highlight why exercise should be on the top of your personal business list of things to do.
Some believe that the engineering of the human body would allow it to last up to 600 years were it not for such factors as pollution, disease, and accidents. While that may seem far-fetched, living beyond 100 years is completely possible provided you make the right choices regarding diet, exercise, and lifestyle.
Studies that Support Exercise for Longevity
It is estimated that each year, there are approximately 250,000 deaths in the United States that can be directly attributed to lack of exercise.
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in April, 1995, followed 17,321 graduates of Harvard beginning in 1962. At set intervals, the doctors conducting the study would inquire about the participants’ exercise habits. It was determined that exercise could be directly correlated with the death rate, and that more vigorous exercise produced greater benefits in terms of longevity.
Another study conducted by Doctor Ken Cooper found that females who exercised regularly demonstrated a 40% lower rate of heart attacks, and men had a reduction in heart attack occurrence by 60%. The study also went on to show that those who were among the least fit cardiovascularly had a death rate three times greater than those who were the most physically fit.
Other studies have shown that exercise reduces the occurrence of colon cancer by 30%, and the incidence of breast cancer in women was reduced significantly as well. For the elderly, regular exercise – especially weight training – reduces the risk of osteoporosis and gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
Exercise Need not be Lengthy or Overly Vigorous
Even activities such as walking showed increased health benefits leading towards increased longevity. However, there is a marked increase in longevity that directly correlates to more vigorous exercise. Everyone should participate in exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, on most days of the week. The exercise does not need to be done all at once in order to receive its life extending benefits, and can be completed in five or ten minute blocks.
Obesity also a Longevity Factor
A study followed 115,000 participants between 1976 and 2000. The participants filled out regular questionnaires regarding lifestyle choices including their level of activity. The study revealed that a high level of physical activity did not necessarily increase lifespan if the participant was overweight, just as a slender person did not enjoy greater longevity if they did not exercise. This study correlated the need to maintain an average weight along with maintaining a regular exercise program in order to achieve maximum longevity.
Frank Hu, an associate professor of epidemiology and nutrition and Harvard University and the lead author of the study said, “It is clear that both weight and exercise are important for health and longevity.”
Since exercise contributes greatly to maintaining a healthy weight, every effort should be made to get down to conducting the personal business of maintaining a regular exercise program. Doing so can only increase your chances of a longer life span.
