Small Increases in Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity Could Prevent Many Early Deaths

Evidence that increasing physical activity at the population level would prevent many early deaths is based on research with methodological limitations (e.g., self-reported activity). In this study, researchers used data from 4840 participants (age range, 40–85) in the population-based U.S. National Health and Nutrition Survey to assess the association between objectively measured physical activity and death.

During 2003 to 2006, participants were asked to wear accelerometers for 1 week. Eight categories of daily moderate-to-vigorous activity were established, ranging from 0 to 19 minutes to ≥140 minutes. During a mean follow-up of 10 years, 1165 deaths occurred. In analyses adjusted for multiple variables, higher activity levels were associ…