New research says a lack of fitness substantially increases the chance of dying prematurely, regardless of one’s age or body mass index.
While maintaining a healthy body weight is important, a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine says staying in shape has a more significant impact on lifespan than a trim waistline. The new comprehensive study compiled a collection of previous research and concluded that being out of shape doubles or even triples the chance of premature death, regardless of age or BMI.
Even those who are obese but aerobically fit were found to be around half as likely to die early compared to individuals with normal weight but poor fitness.
When it comes to health and longevity, “It’s much more important, all things considered, to focus on the fitness aspect… rather than the fatness aspect,” said Siddhartha Angadi, an exercise physiologist at the University of Virginia and the study’s senior author, per The Washington Post.
Experts still largely agree that obesity brings with it a higher chance of developing health issues like diabetes and heart disease. High BMI individuals are also more likely to die at a younger age compared to individuals with normal levels.
Still, being fit and active may lower the risk of premature death, even if BMI remains high.
In one study that was assessed, longevity gains were contrasted between people with obesity who undertook either a new exercise regimen or a new diet. Those who began exercising saw their risk of premature death plummet by around 30%, even when no weight was shed.
In comparison, those who took on a diet to lower their weight netted only half the benefits of the group that exercised.
After scouring over 20 studies covering more than 400,000 middle-aged or older people from around the world, the researchers concluded that people with normal weight who were in the bottom 20% of fitness were twice as likely to die young compared to obese individuals who were in the fittest category.
“From a statistical standpoint, fitness largely eliminated the risk” of premature death linked to obesity, said Angadi.
Last month, The Dallas Express reported on a study that found even four minutes of high-intensity activity each day, like briskly climbing a flight of stairs, can cut the chance of a heart attack in women by half.
In another study, researchers concluded that inactive individuals who sufficiently increase their physical activity could gain upward of 11 additional years of life expectancy.