Even a short, brisk walk a day can prolong life: According to a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine on Wednesday, 75 minutes of moderate exercise per week – i.e. less than 11 minutes a day – prevent one of 10 premature deaths because exercise reduces risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and other serious diseases.
For the study, an international team of researchers evaluated the results of 196 studies that had already been published, in which a total of more than 30 million people took part. They calculated that around one in six premature deaths would have been prevented if each study participant had done at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, as recommended by the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).
Eleven minutes a day
But even half that — 75 minutes of moderate exercise per week — would have prevented one in 10 premature deaths, according to the study. In this case, the risk of cardiovascular disease was reduced by 17 percent and the risk of cancer by 7 percent. According to the study, eleven minutes of exercise a day can reduce the risk of premature death by 23 percent for people who have done little or no physical activity.
Soren Brage, an expert in the epidemiology of physical activity at the University of Cambridge and co-author of the study, sees the results of the study as “extraordinarily good news”. “All you have to do is find a little over ten minutes each day,” he said. “And you don’t even have to go to the gym for these types of activities, they’re part of everyday life.” As an everyday tip for more exercise, Brage recommends getting off at an earlier bus stop on the way to work – or riding a bike.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 17.9 million people worldwide died in 2019 from cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks or strokes. Cancer diseases caused almost ten million deaths in 2020.(apa)