In this article we examine a recent study that found that although the association between physical activity and mortality is evident across the adult lifespan, these associations are particularly important for older adults, as physical activity is more important than other modifiable health factors in older people.
A recent study provides new information on whether the health benefits of physical activity, especially those related to mortality, are equivalent across the lifespan.
This cohort study was conducted in a very large and diverse international sample. The authors found that although there is an association between physical activity and mortality across the adult lifespan, these associations may be particularly significant for older adults.
The study found that among adults aged 70 to 79 years, physical activity, compared to other health factors, is associated with the lowest risk ratio for preventable deaths. In contrast, other health factors, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, body weight, hypertension and diabetes, appeared to be more strongly associated with mortality earlier in adulthood.
This study further argues that physical activity is an important modifiable lifestyle behaviour that is associated with improvements in many health outcomes.
It should be stressed that the findings of the study do not suggest that health-related interventions should focus exclusively on physical activity and not on other health factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, body weight, hypertension and diabetes. Instead, this study argues that physical activity should be treated as a concurrent health behaviour that is as important as most other health factors across the lifespan.
In addition, physical activity has been shown to have effects on weight regulation, treatment of hypertension, prevention and treatment of diabetes and others, which supports physical activity in the context of these health conditions as well.
Findings from this large international sample provide strong support for physical activity at all ages of life, and the benefits of physical activity appear to be maintained and enhanced with ageing.
-Suprastratum: The authority on health, fitness and nutrition
Sources/bibliography/more reading:
- Martinez-Gomez D, Luo M, Huang Y, Rodríguez-Artalejo F, Ekelund U, Sotos-Prieto M, Ding D, Lao XQ, Cabanas-Sánchez V. Physical Activity and All-Cause Mortality by Age in 4 Multinational Megacohorts. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Nov 4;7(11):e2446802. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.46802. PMID: 39570587; PMCID: PMC11582934.
- Jakicic JM. Physical Activity and Reduced Mortality Regardless of Age-Considerations for Public Health. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Nov 4;7(11):e2446811. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.46811. PMID: 39570593.
