About 15 minutes of exercise each day could add three years to your life. That’s according to a study released by The Lancet, which also says those 15 minutes could decrease your risk of death by 14 percent.
A group of researchers in Taiwan analyzed 400,000 people participating in a medical screening between 1996 and 2008. Those people were then classified into five levels of activity: inactive, low, medium, high, or very high. Researchers calculated mortality risks and life expectancy for each group. Here’s what they found:
Compared with individuals in the inactive group, those in the low-volume activity group, who exercised for an average of 92 min per week or 15 min a day, had a 14 percent reduced risk of all-cause mortality and had a three year longer life expectancy. Every additional 15 min of daily exercise beyond the minimum amount of 15 min a day further reduced all-cause mortality by four percent and all-cancer mortality by one percent. These benefits were applicable to all age groups and both sexes, and to those with cardiovascular disease risks. Individuals who were inactive had a 17 percent increased risk of mortality compared with individuals in the low-volume group.
While the more exercise you get, the better, as little as 15 minutes could have a major impact on your health. It takes more time than that to drive around looking for the closest parking spot!
