Warning, couch potatoes: resting on your laurels may be hazardous to your health, not to mention make you old before your time.

"A sedentary lifestyle increases the propensity to aging-related disease and premature death," researchers at King's College London report today in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine. "Inactivity may diminish life expectancy not only by predisposing to aging-related diseases but also because it may influence the aging process itself."

Researcher Lynn Cherkas and colleagues reached their conclusions by examining the genetic material extracted from blood samples of some 2,400 twins. They specifically studied the length of telomeres (repeated DNA sequences) on the ends of chromosomes in leukocytes (white blood cells); the protective caps are believed to be markers of biological aging, because they shrink over time.

Their findings: the telomeres of subjects who exercised the most (an average of 199 minutes weekly) were longer than those of volunteers who worked out the least (a mere 16 minutes or less a week). The discrepancy was enough, researchers wrote, to suggest that the exercise mavens were on average as much as a decade biologically younger than the slackers.

"Such a relationship between leukocyte telomere length and physical activity level remained significant after adjustment for body mass index, smoking, socioeconomic status and physical activity at work," the authors report. "The mean difference in leukocyte telomere length between the most active and least active subjects was 200 nucleotides (chemical structural units of DNA and RNA), which means that the most active subjects had telomeres the same length as sedentary individuals up to 10 years younger, on average."

The scientists speculate that stress, inflammation and oxidative stress (cell damage caused by oxygen exposure) may be responsible for shortened telomeres in physically inactive people. Exercise is among the factors found to help alleviate stress. Previous research has linked regular workouts to lower rates of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, obesity and osteoporosis.

The researchers note that their findings support U.S. guidelines calling for individuals to exercise moderately for 30 minutes at least five days a week. "Our results. . . show that adults who partake in regular physical activity are biologically younger than sedentary individuals," they say. "This conclusion provides a powerful message that could be used by clinicians to promote the potential anti-aging effect of regular exercise."

9 Comments

1. 1. hswshock 04:13 AM 1/29/08

   so i always keep active in my life.

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2. 2. YASODHARAN 01:32 PM 1/29/08

   yah its really correct from our ancient source itself mentioned physical activity keeps you away from diseases. But in todays sedentary life its hard to maintain schedule for physical activity. Any how one should do this if he/she likes to live healthiest life.

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3. 3. cheben 08:45 PM 1/29/08

   All types of exercises like walking, gardening, hiking and yoga are excellent By just chatting regularly with friends and relatives may also help to lead better and longer lives.
   
   Unfortunately, people are more and more involved in sedentary work and sitting at a computer for long hours and watching television after a hard day's work, how can they find time to boost their health.
   
   Yet one's health need to be boosted at all cost.
   This can be easily done and everyone can do it without any cost. Walking, for example is good medicine. Greek physician Hippocrates viewed walking as "man's best medicine". There is an adage that says, " I have two doctors, my left leg and my right".
   
   People who walk consistenly may develop fewer illnesses than people who are sedentary. Walking reduces the risk of heart disease,improves the body's ability to use insulin. It keeps bones strong, preventing osteoporosis.A 15-minute walk brings more relief from anxiety and tension.
   
   Dan Chellumben

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4. 4. cdahal 04:27 PM 8/8/09

   It is pretty much evident that living a sedentary life has its ill effects on the health of people.We all have become so much busy with our work and the outer world that we just do not have time for ourselves.
   Its not necessary that we have to go to a gym or go for jogging when the conditions are unfavourable,we can just do yoga for 20 minutes or so everyday and see how our lives will change in a matter of no time.
   Moreover,we should steal a bit more time when we are working so that we can at least do the basic stretching exercises.If we could have a 20 minute yoga and half an hour of meditation,I guess it would be the best package for the day.And to add iceing to the cake id suggest we get most of these things done right in the morning.
   
   cdahal.

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5. 5. Kiki Asia 09:18 PM 10/10/09

   With so many articles & talks on the benefits of exercise...I have no problem exercising but now my problem is that people at my local gym are telling me that I exercise too much...is there such a thing as too much exercise? My regular week is a 10hours per week up to 13hours on a good week...

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6. 6. Kiki Asia 09:21 PM 10/10/09

   With so many articles & talks on the benefits of exercise, I have no problem exercising..but my problem is that people at my local gym are telling me that I exercise too much...is there such a thing as too much exercise? My regular week is a 10hour exercise which includes 3 strength training and 7 cardio exercises...up to 13hours per week on a good week.

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7. 7. Christabolden2001 11:20 PM 9/12/11

   I totally agree with this. Sitting around all day and not exercising your muscle makes your body very sluggish. I know when I feel offer. Being the motivated person that I am I exercise on a daily basis, which is awesome to know that I am prolonging my everyday life.

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8. 8. Christabolden2001 in reply to Kiki Asia 11:22 PM 9/12/11

   Yes there is such a thing to much exercise. You have to let your muscle rest or you may injury yourself. What I do is workout every other day.

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9. 9. Christabolden2001 in reply to YASODHARAN 11:24 PM 9/12/11

   It is hard but 30 minutes a day can be just taking the longest route to your car or taking stairs. You just have to arrange things around, to make your life healthier.

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