Most of us would probably say that we’d love to live as long as possible. I would have said that as a teen, in my 20’s and in my 30’s.
But now that I am in my 40’s, it has started to mean a lot more to me. Now I am looking closer to a time where my children will be getting married and starting their own families. Wanting to be there for that is a great motivation to do all I can to stay on this earth as long as I can.
The “U.S. National Cancer Institute” just released findings from a study that indicate if after age 40 you remain physically active, you could live an additional two to seven years. Hey, I will take all the time I can get.
But it gets even better. Regardless of your weight, the more active you are the longer you will live. Now if that isn’t a reason to exercise, I don’t know what is.
Previous studies have shown a connection between exercise and a lowered risk of serious medical conditions such as certain types of cancer and heart disease. So not only are you lowering the risk of potentially life-threatening diseases but you are increasing life expectancy.
The study specifically found that 75 minutes each week of brisk walking added 1.8 years of life. This increased to 3.4 years for those who walked 150 to 299 minutes each week. And for those who walked 450 minutes each week, it resulted in an additional 4.5 years of life.
Walking isn’t the only form of exercise but it’s free and has huge benefits. If you are in your 40’s, heading that way or maybe you have already passed it, now is the time to get active. It could lead to a longer life of enjoying family and friends.
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Fitness in Middle Age Impacts Later Years
Photo by Patrick Doheny in Flickr