Even five minutes of activity a day reduces the risk of early death 0 95

A new study has shown that even a minimal increase in daily physical activity can reduce the likelihood of premature death. Researchers examined data from more than 130,000 individuals obtained from wearable devices. This is reported by Lancet.

Participants were divided into two groups: the first included the 20 percent least active individuals, while the second comprised the rest, with the most active individuals also excluded from the analysis. Using statistical calculations, the risk of mortality for each participant was determined, comparing it to the indicators of people of similar age and socio-demographic profile.

The analysis revealed that an increase of just five minutes of moderate or vigorous activity per day can reduce mortality among sedentary individuals by about six percent, and across the entire sample, by up to ten percent. An additional effect is also observed from reducing the time spent sitting, although its impact was found to be less noticeable. The most significant changes were observed in those who spend most of the day inactive.

Even simple actions: a short walk, a bike ride, active housework, or a five-minute bodyweight workout can yield tangible results. It was previously thought that serious physical exertion was necessary for benefits, but new data indicate that positive effects begin with even the smallest changes in lifestyle.