A new study led by Griffith University in Australia suggests that adopting five healthy habits could add up to 11 years to your life. The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, found that habits such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, and drinking alcohol in moderation have about twice as strong an effect on mortality as previously reported.
The study analyzed physical activity data from over 36,000 Americans over age 40, collected between 2003 and 2006. The researchers found that being as active as the least active quartile of the population would lead to a 5.8-year loss in life expectancy for men and women, bringing the expectancy at birth down from around 78 to around 73. However, if all Americans over age 40 were as active as the top quartile, life expectancy would be 83.7 years, which is an increase of 5.3 years.
The researchers also found that if the least active individuals increased their exercise to the most active level, they could potentially gain as much as 11 more years of life. "The people that are currently inactive can gain the most," said lead author Lennert Veerman, Professor of Public Health, Griffith University in Queensland, Australia. "A single additional hour of walking could give those people six more hours of life." (CNN)
The study also emphasized the importance of incorporating moderate- and vigorous-intensity exercise on a daily basis. However, every little bit counts, and even small increases in physical activity can make a significant difference over time. (Fortune)