REVEALED: The specific amount of time you need to walk every day to add a whole YEAR to your life READ MORE: Step by step guide to the walking method that burns most calories By Luke Chafer Health Reporter For Mailonline Published: 15:24 BST, 27 August 2024 | Updated: 15:24 BST, 27 August 2024 e-mail View comments Scientists have pinpointed the exact amount of time you need to walk each day to add a year to your life expectancy. It's long been known that regular exercise reduces the risk of major illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and cancer . For this reason the NHS recommends all adults should be physically active every day — ideally mixing muscle building and aerobic workouts, aiming for 150 minutes a week.
But according to new research, walking for just ten-minute once a day could add up to a year onto your life expectancy if you are over 60 years old. The UK study showed that men gain more from exercise. A regular walk adds nearly 11 months to women's life compared with 16 months for men.
The new study analysed data from over 40,000 women and over 30,000 men, who were mostly in their 60s. Participants didn't have to be fit to start with: the research showed that the benefits were seen in people that were previously inactive Currently, only 20 per cent of people over the age of 65 meet the NHS target of 150 minutes exercise a week The study showed that extra years of life could also be gained by increasing the length and intensity of the stroll..