Post by John A. Casler on Mar 14, 2009 9:24:32 GMT -8
This is from Ralph Giarnella MD as posted to SuperTraining
To visit SUPERTRAINING FORUM
health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Supertraining/?yguid=44276758
Ralph Giarnella MD
Southington Ct USA
Even starting at age 50, increasing exercise reduces mortality risk
March 6, 2009
ST LOUIS (MD
Consult) - For men who adopt a physically active lifestyle at age 50,
the beneficial effect on mortality risk eventually becomes the same as
in men who have always been physically active, according to a study
published online by the British Medical Journal.
The
population-based cohort study included 35-year follow-up data on 2,205
men, aged 50 years at baseline in 1970-1973, living in Uppsala, Sweden.
The men were re-evaluated at ages 60, 70, 77, and 82.
On the
basis of responses to standard questions, the men's physical activity
level was classified as low, medium, or high at each evaluation.
Associations between physical activity, and changes in physical
activity level, and all-cause mortality were assessed. The lead author
was Liisa Byberg of Uppsala University.
All-cause mortality
decreased from 27.1 per 1,000 person-years in the low physical activity
group, to 23.6 per 1,000 in the medium physical activity group, to 18.4
per 1,000 in the high physical activity group. For men with high
physical activity, relative rate reductions in mortality were 32%
compared with the low physical activity group and 22% compared with the
medium physical activity group.
Eleven percent of men
increased their physical activity level between age 50 and 60. Through
the first 5 years of follow-up, their mortality risk was unchanged,
compared with those of men with continued high physical activity.
However, by 10 years, risk was significantly reduced among men who
increased their physical activity level. At this time, their all-cause
mortality was not significantly different from that of men with
unchanged high physical activity.
For men who moved from low
to high physical activity, mortality was reduced by half (adjusted
hazard ratio, 0.51). This was comparable to the reduction achieved by
men who quit smoking (hazard ratio, 0.64).
Compared with
sedentary people, those who are physically active have a one-half
reduction in mortality risk. About half of middle-aged men in western
countries are not physically active. Although the risks of physical
inactivity in young adults are well recognized, the benefits of
becoming physically active later in life have been unclear.
This
study shows a significant reduction in mortality risk among 50-year-old
men who increase their level of physical activity. Although the benefit
takes some time to appear, by 10 years mortality risk is similar to
that of men who have always been physically active.
In terms
of reducing one's risk of death, the benefits of increasing physical
activity are comparable to those achieved by quitting smoking. "Thus,
efforts for promotion of physical activity, even among middle aged and
older men, are important," the investigators conclude.
BMJ. 2009;338:b688.
To visit SUPERTRAINING FORUM
health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Supertraining/?yguid=44276758
Ralph Giarnella MD
Southington Ct USA
Even starting at age 50, increasing exercise reduces mortality risk
March 6, 2009
ST LOUIS (MD
Consult) - For men who adopt a physically active lifestyle at age 50,
the beneficial effect on mortality risk eventually becomes the same as
in men who have always been physically active, according to a study
published online by the British Medical Journal.
The
population-based cohort study included 35-year follow-up data on 2,205
men, aged 50 years at baseline in 1970-1973, living in Uppsala, Sweden.
The men were re-evaluated at ages 60, 70, 77, and 82.
On the
basis of responses to standard questions, the men's physical activity
level was classified as low, medium, or high at each evaluation.
Associations between physical activity, and changes in physical
activity level, and all-cause mortality were assessed. The lead author
was Liisa Byberg of Uppsala University.
All-cause mortality
decreased from 27.1 per 1,000 person-years in the low physical activity
group, to 23.6 per 1,000 in the medium physical activity group, to 18.4
per 1,000 in the high physical activity group. For men with high
physical activity, relative rate reductions in mortality were 32%
compared with the low physical activity group and 22% compared with the
medium physical activity group.
Eleven percent of men
increased their physical activity level between age 50 and 60. Through
the first 5 years of follow-up, their mortality risk was unchanged,
compared with those of men with continued high physical activity.
However, by 10 years, risk was significantly reduced among men who
increased their physical activity level. At this time, their all-cause
mortality was not significantly different from that of men with
unchanged high physical activity.
For men who moved from low
to high physical activity, mortality was reduced by half (adjusted
hazard ratio, 0.51). This was comparable to the reduction achieved by
men who quit smoking (hazard ratio, 0.64).
Compared with
sedentary people, those who are physically active have a one-half
reduction in mortality risk. About half of middle-aged men in western
countries are not physically active. Although the risks of physical
inactivity in young adults are well recognized, the benefits of
becoming physically active later in life have been unclear.
This
study shows a significant reduction in mortality risk among 50-year-old
men who increase their level of physical activity. Although the benefit
takes some time to appear, by 10 years mortality risk is similar to
that of men who have always been physically active.
In terms
of reducing one's risk of death, the benefits of increasing physical
activity are comparable to those achieved by quitting smoking. "Thus,
efforts for promotion of physical activity, even among middle aged and
older men, are important," the investigators conclude.
BMJ. 2009;338:b688.
