Mixed
Adherence to four low-risk lifestyle factors (never smoking, BMI 18.5-25, ≥30 min/day moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and high diet quality) is associated with a 3.41-fold higher relative risk of all-cause mortality compared to adhering to none of these factors.
To maximize your lifespan, focus on four key areas: never smoke, maintain a healthy weight (BMI 18.5-25), engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise daily, and eat a high-quality diet (high in vegetables, fruit, nuts, whole grains, and healthy fats). You do not need to be perfect; even modest improvements in these areas significantly reduce your risk of death. If you don't smoke, you still need to prioritize diet and activity, as these factors independently lower mortality risk.
The relative risk for combining cigarette smoking, being overweight, lack of physical activity, and a low healthy diet score compared with none of the risk factors was ... 3.41 (2.90 to 4.00) for all cause mortality (table 3).
Why this rating
Large prospective cohort (n=77,782), long follow-up (24 years), rigorous adjustment for confounders, and consistent findings across subgroups.
Source
Combined impact of lifestyle factors on mortality: prospective cohort study in US women
Rob M. van Dam et al. · BMJ · 2008
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