Lack of Exercise Responsible for
Twice as Many Deaths as
Obesity
A brisk 20
minute walk each day could be enough to reduce an individual’s risk of early
death, according to new research published today. The study of over 334,000
European men and women found that twice as many deaths may be attributable to
lack of physical activity compared with the number of deaths attributable to
obesity, but that just a modest increase in physical activity could have
significant health benefits
Physical inactivity has been consistently associated with an increased risk of early death, as well as being associated with a greater risk of diseases such as heart disease and cancer. Although it may also contribute to an increased body mass index (BMI) and obesity, the association with early death is independent of an individual’s BMI.
To measure
the link between physical inactivity and premature death, and its interaction
with obesity, researchers analysed data from 334,161 men and women across Europe participating in the European Prospective
Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Study. Between 1992 and 2000,
the researchers measured height, weight and waist circumference, and used
self-assessment to measure levels of physical activity. The participants were
then followed up over 12 years, during which 21,438 participants died. The
results are published today in the American Journal of Clinical Exercise.
The
researchers found that the greatest reduction in risk of premature death
occurred in the comparison between inactive and moderately inactive groups,
judged by combining activity at work with recreational activity; just under a
quarter (22.7%) of participants were categorised as inactive, reporting no
recreational activity in combination with a sedentary occupation. The authors
estimate that doing exercise equivalent to just a 20 minute brisk walk each day
– burning between 90 and 110 kcal (‘calories’) – would take an individual from
the inactive to moderately inactive group and reduce their risk of premature
death by between 16-30%. The impact was greatest amongst normal weight
individuals, but even those with higher BMI saw a benefit.
Using the
most recent available data on deaths in Europe
the researchers estimate that 337,000 of the 9.2 million deaths amongst
European men and women were attributable to obesity (classed as a BMI greater
than 30): however, double this number of deaths (676,000) could be attributed
to physical inactivity.
Professor
Ulf Ekelund from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit at the
University of Cambridge, who led the study, says: “This is a simple message: just a small amount
of physical activity each day could have substantial health benefits for people
who are physically inactive. Although we found that just 20 minutes
would make a difference, we should really be looking to do more than this –
physical activity has many proven health benefits and should be an important
part of our daily life.”
Professor
Nick Wareham, Director of the MRC Unit, adds: “Helping people to lose weight
can be a real challenge, and whilst we should continue to aim at reducing
population levels of obesity, public health interventions that encourage people
to make small but achievable changes in physical activity can have significant
health benefits and may be easier to achieve and maintain.”
Reference
Ekelund, U et al. Activity and all-cause mortality across levels of overall and
abdominal adiposity in European men and women: the European Prospective Investigation
into Cancer and Nutrition Study (EPIC). American Journal of Clinical Nutrition;
14 Jan 2015 - See more at:
http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/lack-of-exercise-responsible-for-twice-as-many-deaths-as-obesity#sthash.hhb8PwOX.dpuf
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