A headline in the New York Times suggests you only need to walk 10-minutes a day to extend your lifespan.
The claim originates from a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine which reports that moderate levels of physical exercise such as walking “substantially” reduces the number of deaths per year.
The findings of the JAMA study supports earlier investigations in which researchers concluded walking 25-minutes a day could extend your lifespan by 7 years.
The new analysis concluded that walking just 10-minutes a day would prevent more than 111,174 premature deaths – a 7% reduction on mortality rates. However, headlines are misleading.
When you take a closer look at the report the data shows that walking for longer is better for you. A daily 20-minute walk increases your chances of living longer by 13% and by 17% if you walk for 30-minutes.
Does Walking Help You Live Longer?
It’s no secret that exercise is good for your physical and mental health. This has been confirmed in several studies over the last decade. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that over 8 per cent of all deaths in the United States are because of “inadequate levels of activity.”
The obesity pandemic in the US is thought to be at the root of premature deaths. Life stress is a significant contributing factor also. The most common cause of death in the world is heart disease.
Any level of exercise can improve your chances of living longer, but your effort has to be worthwhile. A gentle 10-minute stroll won’t have a great deal of impact. A 10-minute brisk walk, on the other hand, is a great start.
Of course, the distance and speed you walk can only be determined by your physical condition so only do what you’re capable of. But no matter how far you walk, sweatcoin is with you every step of the way when you download our app.
