Any physical activity of any intensity six days a week prolongs life. The results of an interesting study that lasted more than forty years.
Physical activity reduces the risk of death by 40%, and its health benefits are comparable to quitting smoking, according to scientists at the University of Oslo Hospital based on long-term observations of the health of older people (1). In 1972-1973, the first study, called “Oslo I”, was carried out: 15 men born between 000 and 1923 agreed to undergo a medical examination. They measured their height, weight, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, noted whether they smoke or not. Participants then completed a questionnaire that assessed how physically active they were during their free time.
According to the results of the survey, they were divided into 4 groups: sedentary (watching TV or reading), low physical activity (walking or cycling, including commuting to and from work, at least 4 hours a week), average physical activity (physical education, sports, heavy gardening for at least 4 hours a week) and high physical activity (hard training or preparing for sports competitions several times a week).
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In 2000, 5738 men took part in a follow-up study (Oslo II) and were then followed up for another 12 years in an attempt to establish a link between physical activity and mortality. Analysis of the data showed that light physical activity of less than an hour a week did not affect mortality, but activity of more than an hour a week reduced the risk of mortality by 32–56%. On the other hand, vigorous exercise for even less than an hour a week reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease and death from any cause by 23–37%. On average, men who devoted their free time to regular moderate-to-high-intensity physical activity lived 5 years longer than those who led a sedentary lifestyle.
These results are consistent with those demonstrated in a similar Australian study published in 2013 (2). Scientists monitored the health of 12 men for 201-10 years. For those who remained physically active, the aging process was slower and mental clarity was maintained.
I. S. Holme, A. Anderssen «Increases in physical activity is as important as smoking cessation for reduction in total mortality in elderly men: 12 years of follow-up of the Oslo II study». British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2015, № 49.
2. O. Almeida et al. «150 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week predicts survival and successful ageing: a population-based 11-year longitudinal study of 12 201 older Australian men». British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2014, № 48.