Study: Lack of Exercise Twice as Deadly as Obesity

We all know that being inactive is bad for your health, but it may be worse than previously thought. According to a study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, physical inactivity may be responsible for twice as many deaths as obesity.

Researchers at Cambridge University studied more than 334,000 men and women over 12 years. After measuring height, weight, waist circumference and self-reported levels of physical activity over that time span, it was found that moderate physical activity helped to lower a person’s chances of premature death.

What does this mean for you?  Well you don’t have to spend three hours a day lifting weights in the gym or competing in ultra-endurance events to be doing something positive for your health.  Researchers concluded that even small, manageable bouts of daily physical activity could have substantial health benefits for people who are physically inactive.

According to study leader Professor Ulf Ekelund, “Although we found that just 20 minutes would make a difference, we should really be looking to do more than this—physical activity has many proven health benefits and should be an important part of our daily life.”

Bored?  You can read the study here, but we suggest going outside instead! http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/early/2015/01/14/ajcn.114.100065.full.pdf+html

Created February 20, 2015 | Category: Health News and Tips