Even a Little More Activity Could Save Millions
By Robert Preidt
Just a half-hour of physical activity a day could prevent millions of early deaths and cases of heart disease worldwide, a new study says.
"Meeting physical activity guidelines by walking for as little as 30 minutes most days of the week has a substantial benefit, and higher physical activity is associated with even lower risks," said study lead author Scott Lear.
Lear is a professor in the faculty of health sciences at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada.
He and his colleagues analyzed survey responses from more than 130,000 people aged 35-70 in 17 countries. Participants were asked about their levels of physical activity, then they were followed for nearly seven years.