Does Physical Activity Increase Life Expectancy? A Review of the Literature
Physical activity reduces many major mortality risk factors including arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancer. All-cause mortality is decreased by about 30% to 35% in physically active as compared to inactive subjects. The purpose of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2012-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Aging Research |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/243958 |
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| _version_ | 1832548957326147584 |
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| author | C. D. Reimers G. Knapp A. K. Reimers |
| author_facet | C. D. Reimers G. Knapp A. K. Reimers |
| author_sort | C. D. Reimers |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Physical activity reduces many major mortality risk factors including arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancer. All-cause mortality is decreased by about 30% to 35% in physically active as compared to inactive subjects. The purpose of this paper was to synthesize the literature on life expectancy in relation to physical activity. A systematic PubMed search on life expectancy in physically active and inactive individuals was performed. In addition, articles comparing life expectancy of athletes compared to that of nonathletes were reviewed. Results of 13 studies describing eight different cohorts suggest that regular physical activity is associated with an increase of life expectancy by 0.4 to 6.9 years. Eleven studies included confounding risk factors for mortality and revealed an increase in life expectancy by 0.4 to 4.2 years with regular physical activity. Eleven case control studies on life expectancy in former athletes revealed consistently greater life expectancy in aerobic endurance athletes but inconsistent results for other athletes. None of these studies considered confounding risk factors for mortality. In conclusion, while regular physical activity increases life expectancy, it remains unclear if high-intensity sports activities further increase life expectancy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-79d250ce96374ef08e18b39f2af272f1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-2204 2090-2212 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Aging Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-79d250ce96374ef08e18b39f2af272f12025-02-03T06:12:35ZengWileyJournal of Aging Research2090-22042090-22122012-01-01201210.1155/2012/243958243958Does Physical Activity Increase Life Expectancy? A Review of the LiteratureC. D. Reimers0G. Knapp1A. K. Reimers2Klinik für Neurologie, Zentralklinik Bad Berka, Robert-Koch-Allee 9, 99438 Bad Berka, GermanyFakultät Statistik, Technische Universität Dortmund, 44221 Dortmund, GermanySportwissenschaft, Universität Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78457 Konstanz, GermanyPhysical activity reduces many major mortality risk factors including arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancer. All-cause mortality is decreased by about 30% to 35% in physically active as compared to inactive subjects. The purpose of this paper was to synthesize the literature on life expectancy in relation to physical activity. A systematic PubMed search on life expectancy in physically active and inactive individuals was performed. In addition, articles comparing life expectancy of athletes compared to that of nonathletes were reviewed. Results of 13 studies describing eight different cohorts suggest that regular physical activity is associated with an increase of life expectancy by 0.4 to 6.9 years. Eleven studies included confounding risk factors for mortality and revealed an increase in life expectancy by 0.4 to 4.2 years with regular physical activity. Eleven case control studies on life expectancy in former athletes revealed consistently greater life expectancy in aerobic endurance athletes but inconsistent results for other athletes. None of these studies considered confounding risk factors for mortality. In conclusion, while regular physical activity increases life expectancy, it remains unclear if high-intensity sports activities further increase life expectancy.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/243958 |
| spellingShingle | C. D. Reimers G. Knapp A. K. Reimers Does Physical Activity Increase Life Expectancy? A Review of the Literature Journal of Aging Research |
| title | Does Physical Activity Increase Life Expectancy? A Review of the Literature |
| title_full | Does Physical Activity Increase Life Expectancy? A Review of the Literature |
| title_fullStr | Does Physical Activity Increase Life Expectancy? A Review of the Literature |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does Physical Activity Increase Life Expectancy? A Review of the Literature |
| title_short | Does Physical Activity Increase Life Expectancy? A Review of the Literature |
| title_sort | does physical activity increase life expectancy a review of the literature |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/243958 |
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