By Ken Reed
Not exercising could be worse for you than smoking, diabetes or heart disease a new study by researchers at the Cleveland Clinic suggests.
Researchers studied more than 122,000 patients between 1991 and 2014. The patients all participated in treadmill testing.
Better cardiorespiratory fitness was linked to living longer. Extreme aerobic fitness resulted in the greatest benefits but lesser levels of fitness also had longevity benefits. Patients with hypertension and those over 70 benefited the most.
“Aerobic fitness is something that most patients can control,” said Wael Jaber, M.D., lead author of the study and a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic.
A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in June said only 23 percent of Americans are getting enough exercise.
Studies have found that exercising even 2-3 days a week has health benefits. And with 4-5 days of exercise a week the benefits increase.
As such, regular participation in individual or team sports, along with other physical activities, could result in significant health improvements for most Americans.
— Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director, League of Fans
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