TIME magazine senior correspondent Alice Park reminds readers that health experts—including doctors, healthcare providers, and wellness researchers—consistently recommend a nutritious diet and regular physical activity for a healthier, longer life.
In the article, highlights a recent study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), where the researchers analyzed data from more than 100,000 people over a 30-year period and found that varying movement and physical activity patterns may play an important role in longevity as staying active overall.
People who exercised more on average had anywhere from 4% to 17% lower risk of death during the study period, depending on the type of activity they did, compared to those who exercised less. But when the scientists broke down the data by exercise type, they found that even among people who reported similar amounts of physical activity, those who engaged in a combination of exercise types had an additional 19% lower risk of death compared to those who stuck to the same regimen.
– TIME Magazine
The study revealed that vigorous walking (17%), running (13%), stair climbing (10%), and resistance training (9%) were linked to reduced risk of early death. Swimming showed no measurable benefit, possibly due to varying definitions.
Keeping up the total amount of activity is still the most important. But on top of that, maybe you can try to diversify the types of activities you do by trying different things, which may gain you additional benefit.
– Yang Hu, Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health in TIME Magazine
Hu added that combining different types of exercise can maximize health benefits and lower the risk of early death. Activities such as running, swimming, and walking support heart and respiratory health and help reduce the risk of heart disease and hypertension. Strength training, meanwhile, helps maintain muscle mass.
“We speculate that the variety of physical activities means that people are able to take advantage of two or even more dimensions of exercise,” Hu told TIME. “We want to make the case that it’s possible that the mix of aerobic and resistance or strength training has complementary benefits.”
Acknowledgement: This summary was generated using AI writing tools as part of my experimental learning process. For more information, check out the original articles listed below.
Related Resource link
- Want to Live Longer? Mix Up Your Exercise Routine | TIME Magazine
- Physical activity types, variety, and mortality: results from two prospective cohort studies | British Medical Journal