Exercise, the Secret to a Long Life

Exercise, the Secret to a Long Life

Research has finally provided evidence to the popular notion that regular exercise makes a person live longer.

According to a study published in the Nov. 14 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, a daily workout can add almost 4 years to a person's life. A team of researchers led by Oscar H. Franco of the Erasmus M.C. University Medical Center in Rotterdam analyzed the data of 5,000 middle-aged and elderly people to find out the effect of low, moderate and high physical activity on life-span after accounting for factors like age, sex and other habits.

The statistics were obtained from the famous Framingham Heart Study that has collected health data on more than 5,000 residents of Massachusetts over a period of 40 years. The calculations revealed that those who engaged in moderate physical activity like a half-hour walk, five days a week, lived 1.3 to 1.5 years longer than those who engaged in low levels of physical activity. And those who followed a more rigorous exercise regime like running for a half-hour, five days a week, lived 3.5 to 3.7 years longer.

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“This shows that physical activity really does make a difference -- not only for how long you live but for how long you live a healthy life. Being more physically active can give you more time,” said Franco.

According to the study, even for middle-aged people, exercise can add a few more years to their lives. “This shows it's never too late to start following a healthy lifestyle. It's never too late to start exercising,” remarked Franco, who also believes that exercise also helps people lead a healthier life, free from illness.

“This should encourage people to be more active -- to take a more active role in their own health and not just sit and wait for a pill to prevent this or that or save your life,” Franco added.