A new study published in the European Journal of Epidemiology has cast doubt on the long-standing belief that high physical activity levels significantly boost lifespan. The research challenges the conventional wisdom that intense exercise is a key factor in extending life expectancy.
For centuries, scientists have searched for ways to prolong human life. Lifestyle habits such as eating a balanced diet, not smoking, and exercising regularly have long been crucial for a longer and healthier life.
The study analyzed health data from roughly 23,000 Finnish twins born before 1958. Researchers assessed the participants’ physical activity levels in 1975, 1981, and 1990 and tracked their mortality rates through 2020.
Dr. Elina Sillanpää, the study’s lead researcher, pointed out that the link between physical activity and lifespan observed in previous studies isn’t as clear-cut as it was once believed. She noted that the team used more advanced methodologies, such as polygenic scores to evaluate genetic risks for diseases, epigenetic analyses to estimate biological age, and longitudinal twin study designs to minimize genetic biases.
The participants were divided into four groups based on their activity levels over a 15-year tracking period: sedentary, moderately active, active, and very active. The results showed that those in the sedentary and moderately active groups had a 7% lower mortality risk than their more active counterparts.
Interestingly, the study also found that meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for physical activity did not significantly lower the risk of death or reduce the risk of genetic diseases.
Experts caution, however, that this study could have some limitations regarding causality. Given the existing body of research linking exercise with increased longevity, further investigations are needed better to understand the relationship between physical activity and lifespan.
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