According to a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in February of 2014, physical activity can decrease your risk of death by as much as 30 percent. Not only was daily physical activity linked to a 30 percent drop in death for all causes, but it was also responsible for a 27 percent lower risk of heart attack and stroke!
The research was conducted on 4,232, 60 year old men and women and their health was tracked for 12.5 years. Participants were followed while performing what researchers call non- exercise physical activity (NEPA). These participants were not involved in a regular or regimented exercise program but physical activity levels were determined. Those that performed the highest levels of physical activity enjoyed the best results.
Another exciting finding was the reduced occurrence of the metabolic syndrome (pre-diabetes) which was significantly lower in those with higher non- exercising physical activity. This is of particular importance since it’s recently been estimated that 58 million Americans are at increased risk for developing diabetes.
The activities that qualify for results are those that we generally associate with typical household chores like house cleaning, gardening, raking etc. The researchers stated that “Our findings are particularly important for older adults, because individuals in this age group tend, compared to other age groups, to spend a relatively greater proportion of their active day performing routine activities as they often find it difficult to achieve recommended exercise intensity levels.”
The researchers concluded that”A generally active daily life was, regardless of exercising regularly or not, associated with cardiovascular health and longevity in older adults.”The message is that you just have to stay generally active to get results. If you are not moving then start moving. If you are moving a little, start moving more and more until you reach the highest levels of physical activity that’s safe and appropriate for you.
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