A recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that Americans over the age of 40 could potentially extend their lifespan by more than five years by increasing their physical activity to match that of the most active quartile of the population. According to the research, “If people in the USA who are over 40 years old were as active as the 25% of the most active individuals in the population, they could live an additional 5.3 years,” as reported by LIFO.
The study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) and U.S. Census Bureau population data from 2019, focusing on the physical activity levels of Americans aged 40 and older. Participants wore activity monitors for at least four days during the study period, providing solid evidence on how movement impacts longevity, particularly in adults over 40 years old, according to Women’s Health. The research team divided participants into four groups based on activity levels and predicted life expectancy for each group using a multipart analysis of existing data.
Using accelerometry, a technique that measures and analyzes changes in body speed to quantify physical activity and sleep patterns, the study provided an accurate picture of Americans’ physical activity levels. This method allowed the researchers to avoid relying solely on self-reported survey responses, which can be less reliable.
The findings revealed a significant difference in life expectancy between the most active and least active individuals. The most active quarter had a 73 percent lower risk of death than their least active counterparts, highlighting significant health gains for the least active cohort. If the least active Americans over 40 years old changed their lifestyle to match the most active 25 percent, it could mean an increase of eleven additional years in life expectancy.
Professor Lennert Veerman, the lead researcher, emphasized the profound benefits of increased physical activity. “If we could increase investment in promoting physical activity and creating living environments that promote it, such as neighborhoods where one can walk or bike and convenient and accessible public transport systems, we could not only increase longevity but also reduce the pressure on our health systems and the environment,” he stated, as cited by SciTechDaily.
The study found that the most active participants engaged in the equivalent of walking about 160 minutes a day at a normal speed of 4.8 km/h (about 3 miles per hour). This level of activity places them in the top 25 percent of physical activity levels. In contrast, the least active group averaged about 49 minutes of walking per day. The researchers noted that even modest increases in daily movement could lead to significant life-extension benefits for those in the lowest activity quartile.
“For the least active quartile, a single one-hour walk could potentially yield about six additional hours of life, as the greatest gain in lifetime per hour of walking was seen for individuals in the lowest activity quartile,” the study reported, as mentioned by SciTechDaily. Dr. Veerman added, “If there’s something you could do to more than halve your risk of death, physical activity is enormously powerful,” according to The Mirror.
Health experts agree on the importance of incorporating more physical activity into daily routines. Ryan Glatt, CPT, senior brain health coach and director of the FitBrain Program at Pacific Neuroscience Institute, says that staying active is important for longevity. “The benefits are most significant for individuals who are inactive, as even small increases in physical activity substantially reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases and premature death,” he stated, as reported by Women’s Health. Scott Kaiser, MD, a geriatrician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center, remarked, “Exercise is the closest thing we have to a miracle drug,” according to Women’s Health. He added, “Even a 10-minute burst can yield great results.”
The study suggests that increasing physical activity not only improves general health but could also add more healthy years, potentially extending life by five to ten years, especially for those over 40 who increase their activity to the top 25 percent. Dr. Veerman emphasized that physical activity has been vastly underestimated in its capacity to improve health outcomes and is “extremely powerful,” according to SciTechDaily.
Alfred Tallia, MD, professor and chair in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, commented on the personal nature of longevity. “Longevity is personal,” he stated, as reported by Women’s Health. He added that the study “re-enforces the idea that more physical activity is better for folks.”
The researchers suggest that national physical activity guidelines may need to be revisited using these methods. Improving physical activity levels across the population could contribute to increased longevity and better overall health outcomes. Dr. Veerman suggested that even modest increases in movement could lead to significant life-extension benefits. “This is not an unreasonable prospect, as 25 percent of the population is already doing it. It can be any type of exercise but would roughly be the equivalent of just under three hours of walking per day,” he said, according to The Mirror.
These findings highlight the critical importance of physical activity for extending life expectancy. By aiming to match the activity levels of the most active 25 percent, individuals over 40 could potentially add over five years to their lives. The study underscores the need for public health policies and personal lifestyle changes that promote increased physical activity to improve longevity and overall health.
