Walking your way to a longer life: New research highlights how modest physical activity boosts longevity for everyone, especially the least active. Study: Physical activity and life expectancy: a life-table analysis . Image Credit: Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine , a group of researchers assessed the impact of low physical activity (PA) on life expectancy and potential gains from increased activity at individual and population levels.
Background Low PA is a significant global contributor to non-communicable diseases and premature mortality. Increasing PA levels reduces the risk of death across all age groups and intensities, with the greatest benefits for the least active individuals. Despite global policies like the World Health Organization’s (WHO) PA guidelines and action plans, disparities persist, particularly among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups.
Existing estimates of the health burden of low PA are likely underestimated due to reliance on self-reported data, which lacks accuracy. The introduction of device-measured data offers an opportunity to better capture the relationship between PA and mortality, revealing a more pronounced association than previously estimated. Recent evidence from device-measured PA shows stronger associations with mortality, necessitating the need for further research to refine disease burden estimates and guide interventions.
About the Study Life expectancy g.