The top two causes of death worldwide are cardiovascular disease and cancer. Both conditions are associated with well-known risk factors, such as low levels of physical activity. A large new meta-analysis explores the association between physical activity and mortality risk and reveals some interesting results.
Higher levels of physical activity are known to lower the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and some site-specific cancers, as well as lower overall mortality risk.
Previous meta-analyses have examined the interaction between physical activity and mortality risk using a variety of methods. The 2019 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study considered the impact of physical activity on disease, but included work-related or occupational activities that are difficult to measure accurately. Even when well-measured, the health benefits of occupational activity are not as clear as those provided by non-occupational physical activity.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have led a new study aimed at clarifying the findings of previous meta-analyses, with particular attention to the association between non-occupational physical activity and mortality risk. The researchers conducting the pooled data analysis used only studies with over 10,000 adult participants, leading to a sample size of over 30 million. The evidence base was greatest for all-cause mortality, CVD and cancer incidence.
Researchers found that typically two out of three participants reported moderate-intensity activity levels of less than 150 minutes per week. In the week she performed more than 300 minutes, she had less than 1 in 10 participants.
People who did 150 minutes of moderately vigorous physical activity per week were shown to have a 31% lower risk of dying from all causes and a 29% lower risk of dying from CVD. This level of exercise also reduced his risk of dying from cancer by 15%. Even if he did 150 minutes or more of moderate-intensity activity per week, the risk of premature death was only slightly reduced.
Remarkably, doing half this amount of physical activity showed substantial benefits. People who did 75 minutes of moderately vigorous physical activity per week had a 23% lower risk of premature death. Did. This equates to just over 10 minutes a day.
“For those who find the idea of doing 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week a little daunting, our findings are good news. is also a good starting point – if you find that 75 minutes a week is manageable, try increasing gradually to the maximum recommended amount,” said Soren Brage, Ph.D., corresponding author of the study. I’m here.
75 minutes of activity per week reduced the risk of developing CVD by 17% and cancer by 7%. For certain types of cancer (head and neck cancer, stomach cancer, myeloid leukemia, myeloma), the risk reduction was even greater, ranging from 14% to 26%.
The analysis found that 16%, or about 1 in 6, of premature deaths could be prevented if all participants engaged in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week. It would also prevent 1 in 9 (11%) of CVD and 1 in 20 (5%) of cancer.
Approximately 1 in 10 (10%) premature deaths could be prevented if participants were active for 75 minutes per week. 1 in 20 (5%) of her CVDs and almost 1 in 30 (3%) of cancers would be prevented.
“Moderate activity doesn’t have to include what we normally think of exercise, such as sports and running,” said lead author Leandro Garcia, PhD. For example, try walking or biking to work or study instead of using the car, or actively playing with your children or grandchildren. Easy to incorporate into your weekly routine is a great way to be more active.”
This research British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Source: University of Cambridge
