Staying physically active cuts risk of early death by 40%

Media release

Staying physically active cuts risk of early death by 40 per cent

Adults who stay consistently active throughout their life can lower their risk of early death by up to 40 per cent, a global study led by The University of Queensland has found.

Researchers summarised data of 85 studies from more than 8 million people, finding lifelong physical activity reduced the risk of premature death, while inactive people who became active later in life could lower their risk by 20-25 per cent.

Dr Gregore Iven Mielke from UQ’s Australian Women and Girls' Health Research Centre said the results highlight the importance of regular exercise and show it is never too late to start being active.

“These findings are encouraging, especially for when consistent physical activity isn’t always possible due to life constraints,’’ Dr Mielke said.

“People have often asked me if they’re too old to start exercising – my answer is no, you can start now and gain lasting benefits.”

The study, the largest meta-analysis of its kind to examine how physical activity impacts mortality and health, found staying or becoming active lowered mortality risk by 20-40 per cent, and cardiovascular disease mortality by 30-40 per cent.

“This also showed ‘bank saving’ exercise is possible, where you retain the benefits of physical exercise undertaken years, or even decades, previously – but more research is needed,” Dr Mielke said.

He said while the study showed people who are inactive face a higher risk of early death, health messaging was also a factor to consider.

“Sometimes when we push the message of needing to be active all the time, people can feel the extra burden and it can actually be more detrimental,” Dr Mielke said.

“In reality, it should be centred around how any activity is beneficial and can have lasting effects.”

Physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for mortality globally and is linked to various non-communicable diseases.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 2.5-5 hours of moderately intense physical activity per week, or 1.25-2.5 hours of vigorous exercise – or a mix of both.

UQ PhD candidate Ruyi Yu said the findings aligned with WHO’s guidelines when they examined the concept of long-term physical activity benefits.

“However, we observed people staying active or initiating activity even at levels below the guidelines still had lower mortality rates, which proves doing something is better than nothing,” Miss Yu said.

“People who met the guidelines earlier in life but later stopped exercising might still have a small, lasting reduction in mortality risk. But this benefit is uncertain, so it’s best to maintain exercise habits over time.

“Our message is do physical activities that bring you joy, because you are most likely to stick to them, and do them more often.’’

The researchers plan to expand their studies internationally to measure the average length of time that consistent exercise adds to a lifespan.

The research is published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.