All articles tagged with #physical activity
A BMJ Medicine study analyzing data from over 111,000 adults across 30 years found that those who varied their exercise types had about a 19% lower mortality risk than those with less variety, with higher total activity offering benefits up to a plateau around 20 hours per week. The results show association, not causation, and note limitations like self-reported activity and limited demographic diversity.
A NiceRx ranking names Idaho the healthiest state, highlighting its low obesity and alcohol use, strong physical activity, and abundant fitness facilities, supported by easy access to outdoor recreation and a slower-paced lifestyle that encourages healthier habits.
Wearable-driven evidence shows that even small amounts of everyday movement—short bursts, brief activity, or 'exercise snacks'—significantly lower risks of heart disease and death. Benefits appear at far lower levels than traditional guidelines (150 minutes/week), with moving from inactivity to any activity producing large gains. Benefits increase with more activity but tend to plateau at higher levels. Modest additions—about five extra minutes a day or 15 minutes of vigorous activity per week—can meaningfully reduce mortality risk, and older adults can gain from roughly 4,400–7,500 daily steps. The core message: movement matters, and minimizing sedentary time is important.
A US study of 5,100+ adults over three decades finds that maintaining higher physical activity in young adulthood—about 5 hours weekly, double the current minimum—substantially lowers midlife hypertension risk, particularly if activity persists to age 60, while racial disparities show Black participants face steeper declines and higher hypertension, signaling the role of social factors and the need for early-life interventions.
A Harvard-led analysis of 111,373 people followed for over 30 years found that engaging in a variety of physical activities lowers overall death risk by about 19–20%, with walking alone offering the lowest risk; a mix of at least three activity types totaling around 20 Metabolic Equivalent Tasks (METs) per week yields the best results, though benefits plateau beyond roughly two hours of running or five hours of brisk walking weekly. The study, published in BMJ Medicine, is observational but supports encouraging diverse activity to extend lifespan.
A BMJ Medicine analysis of more than 111,000 adults over 30 years found that people with the most varied workouts had a 19% lower risk of premature death than those with the least variety, regardless of total exercise time. Experts say mixing cardio, strength training, and everyday activities provides multiple physical and mental benefits, and while any activity helps, rotating routines may boost longevity.
A Lancet study analyzing data from about 150,000 adults across the US, Sweden, Norway and the UK found that adding just 5 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity per day could reduce deaths by up to 6% in the least active group and 10% overall over ~8 years, while cutting daily sitting by 30 minutes could prevent about 3% of deaths in the least active and 7% in the total population; small daily changes in activity and sedentary time may yield substantial population-health benefits and improve overall healthspan as well as lifespan.
A British Journal of Sports Medicine meta-analysis and related trials show that 'exercise snacks'—brief bursts of vigorous activity spread across the day—significantly improve cardiorespiratory fitness and can lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk, with benefits seen in just a few minutes daily through activities like stair climbs, brisk walking, and simple bodyweight moves, even for previously sedentary individuals.
A Boston University–led analysis of the Framingham Heart Study found that higher physical activity levels between ages 45 and 64 are associated with about a 45% lower risk of dementia, with similar benefits extending into older age (about 41% for ages 65–88). The study suggests that regular exercise improves brain health by boosting blood flow and reducing vascular risk factors like hypertension and diabetes, and recommends heart-healthy diets and engaging in social and brain-stimulating activities as complementary strategies.
Brief, intense “exercise snacks”—short bursts of vigorous activity sprinkled through the day—can meaningfully boost cardiorespiratory fitness and reduce mortality risk with only a few minutes of effort daily. Practical examples include stair climbs, brisk walking, and quick bodyweight moves (squats, lunges, wall push-ups) performed 20–60 seconds at a time, multiple times across waking hours. Consistency matters more than duration, and while these snacks don’t replace full workouts, they offer a time-efficient entry point backed by robust science.
Researchers say small daily changes—five extra minutes of moderate activity and 30 minutes less sitting—could reduce premature deaths by about 10% and 7%, respectively, across large populations, with the biggest gains for the least active. A second study links modest improvements in sleep, activity, and diet to longer life, potentially extending life by up to nearly a decade for those with the worst habits.
A Lancet-backed study of about 135,000 adults found that a daily ten-minute walk can cut the risk of dying early by around 15%, with additional gains from small daily tweaks such as taking stairs and reducing sitting time; researchers caution the findings are observational and do not prove causation.
A meta-analysis shows that physical activity, especially cognitively complex sports like basketball or dance, significantly improves attention and focus, serving as a natural alternative or supplement to medication for attention-deficit disorder. Regular moderate exercise enhances brain function by increasing blood flow and releasing beneficial proteins, with timing and enjoyment being key factors for maximizing benefits.
The article emphasizes the importance of regular physical activity for brain health, highlighting how exercise improves cognitive functions, supports neuron growth, and reduces the risk of dementia, with walking and enjoyable activities being highly recommended.
A cardiologist suggests that strength training three times a week may offer more benefits than walking 10,000 steps daily, but emphasizes that the best exercise depends on individual health factors and goals, with 7,500 steps providing significant health benefits.