Any exercise is better than none

Something as routine as getting the housework done can be beneficial to wellbeing and even longevity, researchers have concluded. Jane Kirby reports

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EXERCISING throughout adulthood slashes the risk of early death by 30% to 40% - but any activity is better than none, a new study has found.

While long-term good habits reap the most benefits, switching to a more active lifestyle at any point in adulthood extends life, suggesting it is never too late to get healthy, researchers say.

Overall, physically active people are less likely to die from a range of conditions, including heart disease, stroke and cancer.

Experts reviewed 85 existing studies on millions of people for their research, published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

They found that people who were consistently physically active had around a 30% ro 40% lower risk of dying from any cause, while those who increased their levels of exercise (from below recommended amounts) had a 20% to 25% lower risk. Notably, people who switched from being physically inactive to being active were 22% less likely to die from any cause than those who remained inactive.