A recent study from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, reveals intriguing insights into the relationship between exercise and longevity. While physical activity is undoubtedly important for a long life, the study, highlighted in Medical News Today, suggests that other healthy lifestyle habits may play an even more significant role.
The research, led by Ms. Anna Kankaanpää, delved into the correlation between leisure-time physical activity and mortality risk. Utilizing data from over 11,000 adult twins in the Finnish Twin Cohort, the study spanned 45 years, assessing participants’ physical activity levels and monitoring their mortality until 2020.
Findings indicated that while active individuals had a 15% to 23% lower all-cause mortality risk compared to their sedentary counterparts, the incorporation of other lifestyle factors like BMI, health status, alcohol use, and smoking status reduced the mortality rate difference to a maximum of 7%.
This groundbreaking study suggests that regular physical activity might be an indicator of an overall healthy lifestyle, rather than the sole cause of lower mortality risk. It underscores the importance of a holistic approach to health, where exercise is just one piece of the longevity puzzle.