prevents premature death. But, he adds, “even a portion of such benefit would be of great public health importance.”
While the study did not investigate specific causes of death, Saint-Maurice noted that some of the most common ones in the United States — heart disease, diabetes and some cancers — “may be prevented in adults who are more active.”
Physical Activity For A Healthy Heart: How Much Is Too Much?
How to add physical activity to your routine
The U.S. Government’s Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends:
- At least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity; 75 minutes of vigorous aerobics; or a combination of both, spread throughout the week.
- Moderate- to high-intensity muscle-strengthening activity (such as resistance or weights) on at least two days per week.
- Less time sitting. (Even light-intensity activity can offset some of the risks of being sedentary.)
- Being active at least 300 minutes (5 hours) per week.
- Increasing the amount and intensity of activity gradually over time.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 60% of American adults do not get the recommended amount of activity. And roughly one-quarter aren’t active at all.
However, according to a 2021 study published in the journal Socius, more Americans started exercising during the pandemic than before. Canadian researchers found that in 2019 about 73% of Americans took part in some physical activity or exercise. In 2020, as the pandemic took hold, that number increased to 83%. Also, in the past week, 76% of Americans surveyed said they had gone outside for a walk, hike or exercise.
Adding activity to your day doesn’t have to be a grind. Walking for exercise, cycling for fun or transportation, working out on cardio machines, dancing and playing sports like tennis or golf can all help, Katz notes.
Cleaning the house, working in the yard and playing with your kids are other ways to step up your activity level. Parking farther from your destination and walking the rest of the way is an easy strategy. Marching in place while you watch TV or taking the stairs more often can help, too.
“Abundant evidence from diverse sources indicates that all physical activity contributes to the same, common benefit,” Katz shares.
“This is another reminder of the profound potential to leverage lifestyle practices as the very best of medicine to prevent disease, promote health, add years to lives, and add life to years,” he adds.
Katz says making this common knowledge and empowering everyone to act on that knowledge should be a top public health and cultural priority.