15 minutes of exercise a day can extend life by three years

[lost in melb.]

by Tan Ee Lyn

Reuters Translate This Article
16 August 2011

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Doing just 15 minutes of moderate exercise a day may add three years to your life, a large study in Taiwan has found.

Most people struggle to stick to the standard guideline of 30 minutes a day of exercise, five days a week, and experts hope that by identifying a lower dose, more people will be motivated to get off the couch.

Lead researcher Chi Pang Wen of Taiwan's National Health Research Institutes said dedicating 15 minutes a day to a moderate form of exercise, like brisk walking, would benefit anyone.

'It's for men, women, the young and old, smokers, healthy and unhealthy people. Doctors, when they see any type of patient, this is a one-size-fits-all type of advice,' Wen told Reuters in a telephone interview.

Wen and colleagues, who published their findings in medical journal The Lancet on Tuesday, tracked over 416,000 participants for 13 years, analysing their health records and reported levels of physical activity each year.

After taking into account differences in age, weight, sex and a range of health-related indicators, they found that just 15 minutes of moderate exercise a day increased life expectancy by three years compared to those who remained inactive.

'The first 15 minutes ... the benefits are enormous,' Wen said.

Daily exercise was also linked to a lower incidence of cancer, and appeared to reduce cancer-related deaths in one person in ten.

'Sooner or later, you are going to die. But compared to the inactive group, the low exercise group has a reduction of 10 percent in cancer mortality,' Wen said.

Wen said the Taiwan findings were consistent with similar studies in the past using Caucasian participants, but his team was the first to come up with the minimum level of exercise necessary.

'None of the other papers were able to conclude ... what specific amount of exercise would be enough. Ours is the first one to say that 15 minutes would be enough,' he said.

'We hope this will make it more attractive for inactive people, that they can allocate 15 minutes a day, rather than 30, which is more difficult.'

(Reporting by Tan Ee Lyn; Editing by Daniel Magnowski)

Copyright © 2011 Reuters

[Foxdana]

Nah, still too much effort. :lol:

[AntZ]

So if you do an even hour, you will live 12 years longer!! :cheerlead:

Great!

Think of the people that put in 2 hours, that's almost a quarter century of extra life! :shock:

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Nah, still too much effort. :lol:

:agreed:

[Muddy]

There are so many conflicting reports out there.. I read one the other day that if you have extended periods of inactivity that cancels out any exercise that you may do later in the day.. *sigh*

[Teh One Who Knocks]

It's all a bunch of bunk...if this kinda stuff was true, Jack Lalane would have lived until he was 3245609213847562398 with all the exercise he did :hand:

[DemonGeminiX]

Jack Lalane lived a long time compared to his family history.

[Muddy]

Yeah he did push like 95 or so, didnt he? :lol:

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Jack Lalane lived a long time compared to his family history.

Did he live to be 3245609213847562398? :-s

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Yeah he did push like 95 or so, didnt he? :lol:

So did my grandfather on my dad's side...and he was a meat eating, BBQing, whiskey drinking, cigar smoking guy ;)

[Muddy]

I here the Swiss live long as hell and they eat pure fat and butter and trash every meal... :lol:

[FBD]

maintenance simply requires breaking a decent sweat :thumbsup: which usually takes...8-10 minutes :lol:

[DemonGeminiX]

And at this point I am going to post that I just completed 100 pullups, split into 5 sets of 20.

[Muddy]

I would imagine your arms are massive from the extended use...

[DemonGeminiX]

Not really. If I ever get back to the gym and put up anywhere close to the amount of weight that I used to, I'll probably be able to say that, but at this point in time, they're just kind of normal for my body type.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

And at this point I am going to post that I just completed 100 pullups, split into 5 sets of 20.

And I'm currently drinking a Coke at my desk :)

[Muddy]

100 pullups is huge....

[DemonGeminiX]

100 pullups is huge....

I didn't do them all at once. I split it up into sets and took my time.

You know, back in the day (before our time), it used to be that if you couldn't lift your own body weight 100 times doing exercises like push ups and pull ups, you were considered weak and out of shape. That's what my Mom's Uncle told me.

[Muddy]

I can do about 3 pull ups... :mrgreen:

[DemonGeminiX]

I can do about 3 pull ups... :mrgreen:

You go to a gym, I'm sure they have a pull up bar there. Work at it.

[Muddy]

I have one at the house too... I just am about 20-25 lbs overweight.. If I was pulling 170, I think I could do 10...

[Teh One Who Knocks]

I can do about 3 pull ups... :mrgreen:

I can do about a thousand 16 oz arm curls...with either arm :)

Sometimes I even do the 24 oz curls :)

[Muddy]

power lift with a pitcher?

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Occasionally, but I don't like showing off

[Muddy]

Im gonna do some power lifting tonight, myself... :dance:

[Lambchop]

I find it more challenging not to incorporate exercise into my daily routine. 45 minutes of cycling is a minimum (~150bpm) but every other day I'll also hit the free weights and cable machines. The gym is also a great place to pick up cute guys. :gay:

[DemonGeminiX]

I have one at the house too... I just am about 20-25 lbs overweight.. If I was pulling 170, I think I could do 10...

Make it a goal or something. Be determined to do 5 in a row. When you get to 5, work up to 10, and so on. That's how I do it. It doesn't take your body long to adapt. I'm doing between 100 and 120 dips split into 3 sets right now because of that strategy.

You know you're back muscles are the second largest muscle group in your body behind your legs. Just don't try to cheat it and hurt yourself.

[Acid Trip]

This is why I workout for an hour a day five times a week. Well that and the fact my wife gives me goo-goo eyes every time I take my shirt off :mrgreen:

[lost in melb.]

That's a great effort DGX. Agreed, tenacity is the secret, rather than talent. Still over 100 dips is phenomenal :hi:


I find it more challenging not to incorporate exercise into my daily routine. 45 minutes of cycling is a minimum (~150bpm) but every other day I'll also hit the free weights and cable machines. The gym is also a great place to pick up cute guys. :gay:

I started exercise because I have to - car accident. In fact when I joined AS I was an invalid.

But now...yep once the habits there, you can't stop. When I can't exercise I turn into a grumpy arse.

[FBD]

There are so many conflicting reports out there.. I read one the other day that if you have extended periods of inactivity that cancels out any exercise that you may do later in the day.. *sigh*

wax and wane, bro :thumbsup: inactivity is necessary - when its the main component, though...

its fallacy to attempt to quantify these things accurately - quite possible to overtrain and do more significant damage. The official Bruce Lee story comes to mind, but I still believe he was murdered.

[Acid Trip]

But now...yep once the habits there, you can't stop. When I can't exercise I turn into a grumpy arse.

I second that. I get very grumpy if I go a few days without a workout. Once you are hooked it's hard to stop.

[Hal-9000]

*runs out to get crack pipe*


:face: this may work

[Acid Trip]

*runs out to get crack pipe*


:face: this may work

Use Meth if you wanna lose weight.

[Muddy]

Im so busy (excuse) It's hard to get into the gym...

[DemonGeminiX]

Im so busy (excuse) It's hard to get into the gym...

Make time.

You watch TV? Flop on your stomach during commercials and do a set of push ups, or flop on your back and do some crunches. Everytime a commercial comes on, do something.

Want something easy to get your blood pumping in the morning? Go buy a jump rope. First thing in the morning when you get up, go out back and jump rope for five to ten minutes.

You want that beer? Make it a goal for keeping an exercise regimen.

The first two are tricks I learned back in high school when I was on the wrestling team.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

If I want that beer, I just head down to the bar and get one :tup:

[DemonGeminiX]

If I want that beer, I just head down to the bar and get one :tup:

Try running to and from the bar.

[Muddy]

Make time.

You watch TV? Flop on your stomach during commercials and do a set of push ups, or flop on your back and do some crunches. Everytime a commercial comes on, do something.

Want something easy to get your blood pumping in the morning? Go buy a jump rope. First thing in the morning when you get up, go out back and jump rope for five to ten minutes.

You want that beer? Make it a goal for keeping an exercise regimen.

The first two are tricks I learned back in high school when I was on the wrestling team.

Only problem is I dont like to exercise when I'm drinking beer... :mrgreen:

[Acid Trip]

Make time.

You watch TV? Flop on your stomach during commercials and do a set of push ups, or flop on your back and do some crunches. Everytime a commercial comes on, do something.

Want something easy to get your blood pumping in the morning? Go buy a jump rope. First thing in the morning when you get up, go out back and jump rope for five to ten minutes.

You want that beer? Make it a goal for keeping an exercise regimen.

The first two are tricks I learned back in high school when I was on the wrestling team.

My wife and I agreed that we couldn't have our after work Captain and Cokes or dessert if we didn't go workout that day. It worked out 100x better than I ever thought possible.

[DemonGeminiX]

Only problem is I dont like to exercise when I'm drinking beer... :mrgreen:

So save the beer for later.

:P

[Muddy]

Im a fuggin bum dude.. :lol: Really what happened is I started taking a mild medication to help me smooth out a few anxiety issues I was having... Well the medication worked great.. Except it probably has worked a little too well and made me not feel the pressure or want to do a lot of the stuff I used to be on top of... ie: the gym, cut the grass, etc...

[Acid Trip]

Im a fuggin bum dude.. :lol: Really what happened is I started taking a mild medication to help me smooth out a few anxiety issues I was having... Well the medication worked great.. Except it probably has worked a little too well and made me not feel the pressure or want to do a lot of the stuff I used to be on top of... ie: the gym, cut the grass, etc...

Xanax?

[Muddy]

Xanax?

No, that was too strong.. it made me want to sleep... Lexapro.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

So save the beer for later.

:P

Beer always comes first :nono:

[redred]

i danced my balls off for 10 hours saturday i'm good for a week or so now

[Lambchop]

No, that was too strong.. it made me want to sleep... Lexapro.
How's the decreased libido? :wank:

[Muddy]

How's the decreased libido? :wank:

It was a short term effect... You can't hold back all this horny but for so long... :dance:

[FBD]

:lol: good for you then...everyone I've heard that's taken lexapro, libido was all but nonexistent for the entirety of the time on the drug, then it took a bunch of months to wear off after stopping it!

[Muddy]

Nah, Im ok... I got laid last night.. I have sex no less than 2 times a week...

[FBD]

:thumbsup:

[minz]

I'm not sure I want 3 years added onto my miserable life :(

[AntZ]

Sounds like someone needs to rub one out! http://www.smilies-and-more.de/pics/smilies/obscene/090.gif

[Pony]

So you gain three years but unfortunately you wasted 5 years exercising.

[JoeyB]

I'm not sure I want 3 years added onto my miserable life :(

I hope you meant that facetiously.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

So you gain three years but unfortunately you wasted 5 years exercising.

You unveiled their plan, they will put a hit out on you now :nono:

[Southern Belle]

Guess I won't live long:dance:

[Pony]

You unveiled their plan, they will put a hit out on you now :nono:

Good luck catching me. car>jogger

[minz]

I dont get to the gym as often as I used to, must make more of an effort. :meh:

[Hal-9000]

.. I have sex no less than 2 times a week...



me too......right und then left :thumbsup:

[Hal-9000]

What really burns my ass are the reports on how many calories sex is supposed to burn...the count is really low and I don't buy that.


When I have sex (and other people are present), I'm huffing and puffing and sweatin like a 300 pound pig at a county fair.I'd say I burn more doing the nasty with someone
as opposed to 15 minutes on my exercise bike.

[Noilly Pratt]

Make it a goal or something. Be determined to do 5 in a row. When you get to 5, work up to 10, and so on. That's how I do it. It doesn't take your body long to adapt. I'm doing between 100 and 120 dips split into 3 sets right now because of that strategy.

You know you're back muscles are the second largest muscle group in your body behind your legs. Just don't try to cheat it and hurt yourself.


Start out slow...I gave up Coca Cola about 8 months ago. Except for a couple of slips, I've kept to it. Now, I'm ready to start my exercise routine.


I dont get to the gym as often as I used to, must make more of an effort. :meh:

Do it so you can live long enough to be a cantankerous old lady to your great grandchildren! :D

[JoeyB]

What really burns my ass

I'm huffing and puffing and sweatin like a 300 pound pig at a county fair.

Somehow, when Hal discusses sex, the words 'ass' and 'pig' both seem appropriate to the conversation.

[Godfather]

Healthy diets and lifestyles are all up in the air... a lot of it comes down to luck in the end for the people who live to 100. But one thing I can say for certain though is that you don't see many people 75+ who are fat.

Secondly, eating like hell and not exercising gives you no energy in your day. My grandma always said "the more you do, the more you want to do," and there's no doubt she was right. When I was at my unhealthiest in college, eating garbage, tons of caffeine, too much beer and almost no sports/gym - It just made me lazier and more tired, and ironically I didn't even sleep well!! I get that life gets busy but I hope I never go back.

Also... when you look good, you feel good! All important reasons to eat well and exercise IMO.

[minz]

Somehow, when Hal discusses sex, the words 'ass' and 'pig' both seem appropriate to the conversation.

Funny quote of the week, if I knew how to save both posts in the unforgettable quotes thread I would. :lol:

[JoeyB]

Funny quote of the week, if I knew how to save both posts in the unforgettable quotes thread I would. :lol:

I see my young apprentice that you have yet to master the multi-quote.

[Muddy]

So you gain three years but unfortunately you wasted 5 years exercising.

:lol: Good point!