The health benefits of exercise is clearly known to all. Exercise reduces the risk of heart disease and extends lifespan. New research sets out to understand, in the world of sports, which ones are best for staving off illness and extending life. Those who cycle and swim are on the list of people who may live longer.
Key Takeaways:
- A raft of studies over the last few decades has unequivocally shown that physical activity benefits health.
- Sports participation has been shown to decrease mortality in middle-aged and older individuals.
- Perhaps surprisingly, cycling, running/jogging, and football/rugby were not associated with any kind of protection from cardiovascular disease.
“When joggers and runners were compared with those who did not run or jog, there was a 43 percent decrease in risk of death from all causes and a 45 percent reduction in cardiovascular risk; however, when confounding variables were adjusted for, this effect disappeared.”
