It’s hard to argue against the benefits of daily physical exercise. From staving off chronic diseases like diabetes and stroke, to improving the overall quality of life by alleviating stress and depression, the benefits of a good sweat-inducing exercise are boundless.
Add to that, new studies published recently are claiming that one’s risk of early death can now be predicted by how physically active the individual actually is.
The Study
In a new study published in the August of 2019 in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences looked at data from a cohort of over 3000 U.S adults which was called the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey aka NHANES. This particular survey was carried out from a period of 2003-2004 and 2005-2006.
The researchers of that study were looking at over 30 predictors of 5-year-all cause mortality, which included medical history, tobacco, and alcohol consumption, and of course, physical activity level.
After the analyses of accumulated data, the researchers concluded that how much physical activity one gets was 30 % more accurate in predicting early death than all of the other indicators. What is even more fascinating to learn was that lack of physical activity was 40% more accurate in predicting early death than other indicators like cancer and stroke.
What Does This Mean?
Now, according to Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, adults should get at least 150 mins of intense to moderately-intense aerobic exercise every week. That means 30 mins of aerobic exercise on most days.
However, research states that the number of Americans getting an adequate 30 mins exercise is less than 5 %. So, although most are privy to the benefits of a good moderately-intense exercise, not many are inclined to make it a habitual lifestyle choice.
The above study just elevates the importance of exercise by focusing on how it improves longevity and also maximizes the quality of life.
This should be enough of a motivation to give your body the physical exercise it needs. There are still some who might excuse themselves from committing to the act by citing time restraints and all sorts of other get-out-of-jail-free cards.
Here are five tips that you can follow to increase your physical activity:
1. Avoid elevators, use the stairs
2. Find a workout buddy to motivate you to carry on with your workout routine daily
3. Try getting in 3 bouts of 10-minute spurts of activity throughout the day
4. Walk whenever possible
5. Find an exercise that is fun for YOU
