Recent research from Scandinavia challenges the long-held belief that regular exercise is the panacea for longevity. Scientists from the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland conducted an extensive study over a 45-year period, involving more than 11,000 Finnish twins. Their findings, which earned a prestigious sports medicine award in Finland, suggest that excessive physical activity might not only be less beneficial for extending lifespan but could also potentially accelerate aging.
The study divided participants into four groups based on their levels of physical activity: sedentary, moderately active, active, and highly active. Initial results indicated a 20% higher mortality risk over the 45 years for the least active compared to the regularly active. However, this gap narrowed significantly after adjusting for various lifestyle factors such as education, body mass index, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Interestingly, the research revealed no additional longevity benefits for those engaging in high levels of physical activity, supporting the adage, “Everything in moderation.”
Further intriguing results showed that those at the extremes of physical activity—either too little or too much—experienced accelerated biological aging. The most active individuals were, on average, about 1.8 years “older” biologically than those with moderate exercise habits. This outcome suggests that the longevity associated with physically active individuals could stem more from their overall healthier lifestyles rather than the exercise itself. Dr. George Savva, a senior researcher at the Quadram Institute, praised the study’s design focusing on twins but cautioned against overlooking how physical activity can influence factors like BMI, potentially affecting the study’s conclusions. The World Health Organization’s recommendation for adults is 150 to 300 minutes of moderate exercise, or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous exercise weekly, a guideline that remains a benchmark for healthy living.
