Lack of exercise 'may kill twice as many people as obesity'

Date: Jan-15-2015 Just 20 minutes of brisk walking a day may be all it takes to lessen a sedentary person's risk

of early death, says a new study. The researchers also found the risk of early death due to lack of

exercise is double that posed by obesity and does not necessarily depend on being obese or

overweight.

Just 20 minutes a day brisk walking can cut risk of early death in inactive people, study says.

These were the conclusions of the team that analyzed the data on over 334,000 men and women taking

part in a large European study looking at the links between cancer and diet that also measured many

other variables such as exercise and BMI.

When they analyzed the data, the researchers found that compared with the number of deaths linked

to obesity, twice as many were linked to lack of physical activity - and, moreover - just a modest

increase in physical activity could make a difference, especially among inactive people.

First author Ulf Ekelund a sport medicine professor who works in the Medical Research Council (MRC)

Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge in the UK, and colleagues report their findings in

the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Prof. Ekelund says the study delivers a simple message: "just a small amount of physical activity

each day could have substantial health benefits for people who are physically inactive."

Biggest effect was between inactive and moderately inactive groups

To assess the link between lack of exercise and early death - and how it might relate to this via

obesity - the team analyzed data on 334,161 men and women across Europe taken between 1992 and 2000 as

part of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Study.

The dataset included measures of height, weight, waist size and self-reported physical activity

levels. The participants were followed for over 12 years, during which time 21,438 of them died.

The team found the greatest reductions in risk of early death when they compared inactive and

moderately active participants. They used a measure of physical activity derived from combining

leisure and at work activity.

The links between early death and physical inactivity were observed across all levels of overweight and obesity measures - both in terms of overall BMI and central or abdominal obesity.

The study classed 22.7% of participants as inactive because they reported having no recreational

activity and were occupied in sedentary jobs.

The analysis found that doing exercise that burned just 90-110 calories a day - the equivalent of a

daily 20-minute brisk walk - was enough to move an individual from the inactive to the moderately

inactive group and reduce their risk of early death by 16-30%.

The team notes that while the effect of this was greatest among participants of normal weight,

the analysis showed this also benefited overweight and obese participants.

We should do more than 20 minutes a day, says researcher

However, Prof. Ekelund notes that while 20 minutes of brisk walking a day can make a difference,

we should really do more, as "physical activity has many proven health benefits and should be an

important part of our daily life."

Co-author Professor Nick Wareham, Director of the MRC Unit at Cambridge, says while we need to

continue with public health efforts that reduce levels of obesity, we should also be helping people

increase physical activity. This might be easier to achieve and maintain, and can have significant

health benefits, he adds.

The traditional view of exercise need not limit our intention to become more physically active. In

December 2014, Medical News Today learned about research that found yoga is comparable to walking and biking in reducing risks of

cardiovascular disease.

Written by Catharine Paddock PhD

Not to be reproduced without permission.

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Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.