Mixed
Higher levels of total physical activity, regardless of intensity (including light activity), are associated with a substantially reduced risk of all-cause mortality in a non-linear dose-response pattern.
Focus on increasing your total daily movement volume rather than just high-intensity workouts. Aim for at least 10 hours of accelerometer wear time per day for 4+ days to capture accurate data, but practically, this means accumulating light activity (walking, standing) throughout the day. The biggest mortality risk reduction occurs with moderate increases in activity, particularly around 24 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity or 375 minutes of light activity per day. Do not neglect light activity; it is highly effective for longevity.
Higher levels of total physical activity, at any intensity, and less time spent sedentary, are associated with substantially reduced risk for premature mortality, with evidence of a non-linear dose-response pattern in middle aged and older adults.
Why this rating
Large sample size (n=36,383), harmonized individual-level data, prospective cohort design, and meta-analysis of 8 studies.
Source
Dose-response associations between accelerometry measured physical activity and sedentary time and all cause mortality: systematic review and harmonised meta-analysis
Ulf Ekelund et al. · BMJ · 2019
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