The investigators compared the relative mortality risks of U.S. adults who met the 2008 US Department of Health and Human Services Guidelines for physical activity with adults who did not meet the recommendations.
The adult physical activity guidelines at a glance:
- Adults should do 2 hours and 30 minutes a week of moderate-intensity, or 1 hour and 15 minutes (75 minutes) a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity. Aerobic activity should be performed in episodes of at least 10 minutes, preferably spread throughout the week.
- Additional health benefits are provided by increasing to 5 hours (300 minutes) a week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, or 2 hours and 30 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity physical activity, or an equivalent combination of both.
- Adults should also do muscle-strengthening activities that involve all major muscle groups performed on 2 or more days
Meeting the recommendations for aerobic activity was associated with substantial survival benefits (decreased mortality) especially among the population having chronic conditions, with estimated hazard ratios (for death) ranging from 0.65 to 0.75 (p<0.05). Weight lifting activities by themselves did not appear to reduce mortality risk. The reduction in mortality was significant after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, BMI, smoking, and alcohol use.
So, I will still enjoy my workouts, now more than ever, with the added hope of avoiding a premature trip to the cardiac catheterization lab or the nursing home.
