Lifestyle: Choose Wisely!

Last week, I went on a rampage and posted several times on the deadly nature of sitting (physical inactivity) and/or watching TV (which is usually performed while sitting!).  The good news is that more physical activity and less TV watching has been associated many times over w/lower risk of death from any cause (all-cause mortality).  The best news is that we need less physical activity than we originally thought to derive benefit, just 15min/d of exercise (although more benefit was associated with more time spent exercising).  However, physical activity is just one tenet of a healthy lifestyle.

In fact, two years ago back in August 2009, a study was published concluding that just 4 factors (not smoking, eating healthy, staying active, and keeping one's body mass index (BMI) <30kg/m2) were associated with lower risk of chronic diseases, eg cancer, diabetes, heart disease & stroke.  From my point of view, one's BMI derives from two of the first three lifestyle choices, eg nutrition & activity.

So in a study published last week, researchers followed 16,958 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III Mortality Study from 1988 to 2006.  Those who engaged in eating a healthy diet, getting enough physical activity, consuming a moderate amount of alcohol, and never smoking, had a lower risk of all-cause, cancer, cardiovascular disease and other cause mortality compared to those who engaged in none of those activities.  Furthermore, each lifestyle choice was independently associated with mortality, and the number of choices, from none to four, was related to the degree of benefit.

In plain terms, those who engaged in all four lifestyle choices had 11.1yrs less all-cause mortality, 14.4yrs less cancer mortality, 9.9yrs less major cardiovascular mortality, and 10.6yrs less mortality from other causes.  Of course this data is observational so one can only develop hypotheses from it rather than demonstrate cause & effect.  Still, I know of no bad things resulting from any (combination) of these lifestyle choices.  Bottom line:  physical activity is a must; but never smoking, eating right, and consuming a moderate amount of alcohol improve your odds and add life to your years (or is that years to your life?).