Your daily life could hide an unsuspected key to gaining years of life in good health.
According to a recent study, a few simple adjustments could be enough to extend your life by several years, without transforming your life into athlete training.
To achieve these results, researchers from Griffith University studied data from American forty-somethings, collected using accelerometers worn daily. Analyzes show that the most active individuals, with the equivalent of 160 minutes of marche per day, benefit from life expectancy significantly higher than the least active. If all adults over 40 adopted this pace, they could gain up to 11 years of life.
The secret lies in simple actions, like walking more every day. According to estimates, an extra hour of brisk walking per day could extend the lives of the least active by 5 to 6 years. And this gain in life expectancy can even reach 11 years if we apply it to those with the lowest current activity level! This data take a dimension even more significant when we know that the benefits extend to serious illnesses such as cardiovascular disorders or certain cancers.
Compared to other public health factors, physical activity rivals even smoking cessation in terms of positive impact. For every additional hour of walking, a sedentary person could gain six hours of life expectancy. A striking comparison: each cigarette smoke cuts off 11 minutes of life, while a short walk has the effect inverse.
The study also invites us to reflect on our urban environment. In many cities, infrastructure is poorly suited to walking or cycling, discouraging individual initiatives. However, researchers emphasize the importance of neighborhoods conducive to physical activity to transform these habits into a social norm. L’Organisation worldwide from health thus encourages the creation of pedestrian zones and cycle paths to facilitate the integration of movement into daily life.
These simple actions not only extend life, but also improve the quality of it. Walking affects stress, mental well-being and cognitive functions, while strengthening social bonds. A beneficial snowball effect for the individual and the community.
For many, moving more seems an unattainable goal. However, a few modest changes are enough to make a difference: preferring the stairs to the elevator, walking for short trips or even doing your shopping on foot. These cumulative habits can transform your health.
So, if your health allows it, why not seize the opportunity? Rediscovering the pleasure of movement is not only a choice for today, it is a gift for the future.
