5 Minutes of Exercise Can Reduce Premature Death Risk by 30%
- Spending just five minutes a day engaging in moderate-to-vigorous exercise, such as brisk walking, can lower the risk of premature death by as much as 30% for inactive...
- Patricia Fernández de Lis, a science and health journalist for El País, discussed the study's findings with aimar Bretos on Hora 25.A key strength of the study lies...
- The study reveals a pattern epidemiologists recognise as the law of diminishing returns. The greatest benefits are seen in those who are currently entirely inactive.
Just Five Minutes of Exercise Daily Can Significantly Reduce Mortality Risk
Spending just five minutes a day engaging in moderate-to-vigorous exercise, such as brisk walking, can lower the risk of premature death by as much as 30% for inactive individuals, according to a study published this week in The Lancet. The research,analyzing data from over 135,000 participants,highlights the considerable benefits of even minimal physical activity.
Patricia Fernández de Lis, a science and health journalist for El País, discussed the study’s findings with aimar Bretos on Hora 25.A key strength of the study lies in its methodology. Researchers utilized accelerometers worn by participants to objectively measure movement, avoiding the biases often found in studies relying on self-reported questionnaires.
Diminishing Returns
The study reveals a pattern epidemiologists recognise as the law of diminishing returns. The greatest benefits are seen in those who are currently entirely inactive.
- Increasing activity from one to six minutes daily yields a 30% reduction in mortality risk.
- Increasing activity from nine to fourteen minutes daily yields an 18% reduction.
The benefits plateau after approximately 24 minutes of daily activity.
This research underscores that even small increases in physical activity can have a notable impact on health, notably for those who currently lead sedentary lifestyles.