A brisk 20-minute walk each day could be enough to reduce an individual’s risk of early death, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The study, which was led by researchers form Cambridge University, collected data on over 334,000 European men and women. It found that, compared with the number of deaths caused by obesity, twice as many deaths may be caused by lack of physical activity and that just a modest increase in physical activity could have significant health benefits.
Physical inactivity has been consistently associated with both an increased risk of early death, and with a greater risk of diseases such as heart disease and cancer. Although it may also contribute to an increased body mass index (BMI) and obesity, increased likelihood of dying early is not specifically related to BMI.
To measure the link between physical inactivity and premature death, and its interaction with obesity, researchers analysed data from 334,161 men and women across Europe participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study. Over an average of 12 years, the researchers measured height, weight and waist circumference, and used self-assessment to measure levels of physical activity.
The researchers estimated that taking exercise equivalent to just a 20-minute brisk walk each day – burning between 90 and 110 calories in the process – would reduce the risk of premature death by between 16 and 30 per cent. The impact was greatest among people of normal weight, but even those with a higher BMI saw a benefit.
Using the most recent available data on deaths in Europe, the researchers estimate that 337,000 of the 9.2 million deaths amongst European men and women were attributable to obesity (classed as a BMI greater than 30): however, double this number of deaths (676,000) could be attributed to physical inactivity.
Dr Mike Loosemore, Lead Consultant in Sport and Exercise Medicine at the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health and Lead Sports Physician (South of England) for the English Institute of Sport, commented:
“This is a powerful study. It adds to the growing body of evidence demonstrating the importance of physical activity: even low levels of active movement will benefit your health. “Sedentary behaviour is the scourge of the twenty-first century and one of the biggest public health issues facing us today. Prolonged ‘screen time’, added to the proliferation of labour-saving devices, has led to a massive reduction in physical activity compared with previous generations. As far as ill health goes, prevention is always better – and cheaper – than the cure."