A Simple Hour That Could Change Your Future

A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine reveals that Americans aged 40 and older could extend their lives by 5.3 years. They can do this by adopting activity levels comparable to those of the most active quarter of the population.

The research team analyzed data from the National Center for Health Statistics' 2017 mortality records and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2003-2006) to establish the relationship between physical activity and life expectancy. Their analysis focused on a representative sample of non-institutionalized U.S. civilians.

To standardize their measurements, researchers converted various physical activity types into equivalent walking hours. The study found that the most active group engaged in activity equivalent to 160 minutes of walking at three mph daily, while the least active group averaged only 49 minutes.

The analysis revealed that if all Americans over 40 maintained activity levels similar to the lowest quartile, the average life expectancy would drop to 73 years - approximately six years below the 2017 national average.

The research indicates that moving from the lowest to the highest activity quartile could add up to 11 years to life expectancy. Even modest increases in activity showed meaningful benefits, with advancement to the second and third quartiles associated with gains of more than six months and 3.5 years, respectively.

The study highlighted that individuals in the lowest activity group stood to gain the most benefit. The research showed that each additional hour of walking could add six hours to their life expectancy, representing the highest return on increased activity among all groups studied.