Too late for them, but for us, this is good news.
A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine suggests that even a little walking can significantly reduce mortality risk. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity, or 75 minutes of intense physical activity, each week to reap “substantial” health benefits. Some of these benefits include a reduced risk of premature death, cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease and stroke, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis. Mental health is also believed to benefit from a more active lifestyle, as exercise improves cognitive function and reduces the likelihood of having depression.
The Guidelines also emphasize the fact that “some physical activity is better than none” — and a new study further strengthens this message.
The research, led by Alpa V. Patel, Ph.D., strategic director of the Cancer Prevention Study-3 for the American Cancer Society (ACS), focuses on the most common and accessible form of physical activity: walking. The study found that even levels of walking that do not meet the national recommendations still lower the risk of premature death by a considerable amount.
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