Recent Study Shows Walking Can Add Years to Your Life
In a study published November 2024, the authors cross referenced 2017 U.S. mortality data with physical activity estimates from the 2003–2006 National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey. The subjects wore accelerometers which measured physical activity and then the authors converted that data into walking-equivalents (based on number of calories burned) to measure levels of activity.
They reported that adults over the age of 40, who were in the top 25% of physical activity, had an average of 5.3 increased years of life expectancy compared to those in the lowest 25% of physical activity. Those in the second and third quartiles of physical activity from the top had an increase of 3.5 years and 0.6 years of life expectancy respectively compared to the lowest 25%.
It was also reported that if those in the lowest 25% of physical activity walked (or increased walking-equivalents) for an extra hour a day, the predicated life expectancy starting from age 40, would increase by 6.3 years. If those in the lowest 25% of physical activity group increased walking-equivalents to the same level as those in the highest 25% of physical activity, life expectancy from age 40, was calculated to increase by 10.9 years. For those in the second highest quartile of physical activity, an extra hour of walking was predicted to increase life expectancy by 2.8 years and for those in the third quartile of physical activity an extra hour of daily walking was calculated to increase life expectancy by 1.9 years.
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This study reported the positive effects of exercise, in this case daily walking or walking-equivalents, on life expectancy. The predicted greatest gains for increased exercise were for those in the lowest 25% of physical activity, although all groups below the top 25% were found to benefit from more exercise. This data is similar to other studies that have demonstrated that daily exercise can increase life span.
There are many possible reasons for the beneficial effect of exercise including reducing all of the following: inflammation in the body, cancer risk, diabetes risk, arteriosclerotic heart disease and stroke risk, the risk of hip fractures, and the risk of contracting dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Exercise also may improve bone health and depressive symptoms.
If you are interested in learning more about this topic, click here to read the article The Proven Benefits of Exercise.
References
Veerman L, Tarp J, Wijaya R. Physical activity and life expectancy: a life-table analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine Published Online First: 14 November 2024. Retrieved from: https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2024/10/07/bjsports-2024-108125
Lee DH et al. Long-Term Leisure-Time Physical Activity Intensity and All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality: A Prospective Cohort of US Adults. Circulation. August 16, 2022, Vol 146, Issue 7. Retrieved from: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.121.058162?cookieSet=1
Garcia L et al. Non-occupational physical activity and risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and mortality outcomes: a dose–response meta-analysis of large prospective studies. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2023;57:979-989. Retrieved from: https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/bjsports/57/15/979.full.pdf
Caplen, S. The Proven Benefits of Exercise. FibonacciMedicine. March 6,2024. Retrieved from: https://www.fibonaccimd.com/post/the-proven-benefits-of-exercise-cme
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