Move More, Live Longer

Another study has confirmed that being active can add years to your life. This particular study, published Tuesday in PLOS Medicine, looked at leisure-time physical activity, which means recreational exercise as opposed to activities like taking the stairs or running errands (although those smaller bursts of movement are beneficial too!). Across the board—regardless of the subjects’ gender, race, or body weight—the researchers found that regular exercise extended longevity. Specifically, following the US Department of Health and Human Services’ recommendation of getting at least 2.5 hours of moderate exercise (where you can talk but not sing) or 1.25 hours of vigorous exercise (where you’re unable to talk without stopping for breath) per week adds an average of 3.4 years to your life expectancy. If you double that amount of activity, you can add up to 4.2 years of life! And even adults who get half the recommended amount of activity can still add 1.8 years to their lifespan.