Not Exercising Causes More Deaths Than Smoking
Posted by Randall A Reinwasser on Thursday, July 26, 2012
Dr. Weil gives us the surprising results from a worldwide study comparing death rates of smokers vs. those living sedentary lifestyles:
Sedentary Living as Bad as Smoking
If you've been thinking about an exercise program, it's about time to get off the couch. A new study from Harvard suggests that inactivity can be as hazardous to your health as smoking and that a sedentary lifestyle is the cause of one in 10 deaths worldwide. The research team included investigators from 33 countries who analyzed data gathered in 2008 on deaths. They found that the "couch potato syndrome" adds up to six percent of all cases of coronary heart disease, about 7 percent of type 2 diabetes and 10 percent of breast and colon cancers. In real numbers, that amounts to 5.3 million deaths per year, more than the 5 million lives lost annually to smoking. The researchers estimated that if only 10 percent of those who are currently inactive started to exercise, 533,000 lives would be saved; if 25 percent began moving, 1.3 million deaths could be averted. The amount of exercise needed is pretty modest - 30 minutes of brisk walking or cycling five days a week. The study was published online on July 18, 2012 issue in The Lancet.
My take? I ask everyone who comes to me for medical consultations about their exercise habits, and I frequently urge patients to seek enjoyable activities to get them moving. The advice comes in part from my own experience. I disliked exercise for much of my early adult life, but now my day doesn't feel right if I go without some form of physical activity. Here's a tip: If you want to unlearn old habits and develop new healthy living habits, spend time with people who practice the habits you want. Your choice of friends and acquaintances is a powerful influence on your behavior. If you want to be a habitual exerciser, keep company with people who exercise regularly and enjoy it.
Sedentary Living as Bad as Smoking
If you've been thinking about an exercise program, it's about time to get off the couch. A new study from Harvard suggests that inactivity can be as hazardous to your health as smoking and that a sedentary lifestyle is the cause of one in 10 deaths worldwide. The research team included investigators from 33 countries who analyzed data gathered in 2008 on deaths. They found that the "couch potato syndrome" adds up to six percent of all cases of coronary heart disease, about 7 percent of type 2 diabetes and 10 percent of breast and colon cancers. In real numbers, that amounts to 5.3 million deaths per year, more than the 5 million lives lost annually to smoking. The researchers estimated that if only 10 percent of those who are currently inactive started to exercise, 533,000 lives would be saved; if 25 percent began moving, 1.3 million deaths could be averted. The amount of exercise needed is pretty modest - 30 minutes of brisk walking or cycling five days a week. The study was published online on July 18, 2012 issue in The Lancet.
My take? I ask everyone who comes to me for medical consultations about their exercise habits, and I frequently urge patients to seek enjoyable activities to get them moving. The advice comes in part from my own experience. I disliked exercise for much of my early adult life, but now my day doesn't feel right if I go without some form of physical activity. Here's a tip: If you want to unlearn old habits and develop new healthy living habits, spend time with people who practice the habits you want. Your choice of friends and acquaintances is a powerful influence on your behavior. If you want to be a habitual exerciser, keep company with people who exercise regularly and enjoy it.
