Living a long and healthy life involves various factors, including genetics and gender, which are unchangeable. While exercise is crucial for longevity, a study from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland suggests that other healthy habits may have a more significant impact. The research, focusing on leisure-time physical activity and mortality risk, indicates that exercise alone may not be the sole factor influencing lifespan.
The study, conducted on over 11,000 adult twins, assessed physical activity levels through questionnaires from 1975 to 1990. Participants were categorized into sedentary, moderately active, active, and highly active groups. Over a 45-year span, the study found that active groups had 15-23% lower all-cause mortality risk than the sedentary group. However, when factoring in lifestyle aspects like BMI, health status, alcohol use, and smoking, the sedentary group’s mortality rate decreased to a maximum of 7%.
Interestingly, participants in the sedentary and highly active groups experienced accelerated biological aging compared to the moderately active and active groups. The researchers suggest that long-term exercise’s beneficial association with reduced death risk may be indicative of an overall healthy lifestyle rather than exercise alone being the cause.
Dr. David Cutler notes that the study aligns with the notion that exercise’s health benefits reflect overall healthy behavior. It challenges the compensatory belief that exercise can counteract unhealthy habits. Dr. Cheng-Han Chen emphasizes that some exercise is associated with decreased mortality compared to being sedentary, and moderate exercise can offer health benefits without the need for extreme levels.
While exercise contributes to a healthier, longer life, it doesn’t offset the detrimental effects of unhealthy habits like smoking or a poor diet. The study suggests that maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, is crucial for reaping maximum health benefits and extending life.
