Even small changes in daily activity can have a significant impact on life expectancy, according to a large-scale international study of more than 135,000 people in the UK, US, Norway and Sweden. The Guardian reported on the results.
The study, conducted by researchers at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, found that an extra five minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per day, such as brisk walking, can reduce the risk of premature death by about 10%. Meanwhile, reducing sedentary lifestyle by just half an hour each day is associated with a further 7% reduction in this risk.
The greatest effect was seen among people with the lowest levels of physical activity, a group that benefits most from even small increases in activity. The researchers emphasize that their findings are not intended to be individual recommendations, but rather demonstrate the potential for simple changes to improve overall health.
Professor Aidan Dougherty of the University of Oxford, who was not involved in the study, called the analysis an important step forward in understanding the impact of daily activity on health. Daniel Bailey, a researcher at Brunel University London, agreed, noting that five extra minutes of movement is a realistic goal even for people who are far from regular exercise. The researchers include not only brisk walking, but also housework or gardening.
A parallel study published in the journal eClinicalMedicine found that comprehensive lifestyle improvements are also linked to longer life expectancy. Even small adjustments—an extra five minutes of sleep, two minutes of more vigorous exercise, and half a serving of vegetables a day—can add about a year to the lives of people with the worst health habits.
A separate study by a team from the University of Sydney analyzed data from nearly 60,000 participants. They found that an optimal sleep pattern—7–8 hours of sleep, more than 40 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily, and a balanced diet—was associated with an almost ten-year increase in life expectancy.
In general, scientists agree: even small but regular changes in daily habits can have long-term positive effects on health and quality of life.
