Loose Women: Dr Hilary discusses how to live longer
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
A new study, published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, found that social interaction in team sports may add another benefit to the already long list that comes with exercising – better longevity. But what exercises are most and least effective? The research may have come up with an answer.
Study co-author Dr James O’Keefe said: “For both mental and physical well-being and longevity, we’re understanding that our social connections are probably the single most important feature of living a long, healthy, happy life.”
Exercises done with a partner or a group, including tennis, badminton and soccer, are “all better for longevity” than solo activities like cycling, swimming or jogging, according to the study.
The study looked at data from around 8,500 white adults with no history of heart disease, stroke or cancer.
These adults completed a questionnaire, examining the type and frequency of their physical activity habits.
READ MORE: Pfizer booster shot: The third shot side effect that makes daily activities ‘impossible’
The researchers then monitored the participants for about 25 years, during this time about 4,500 of them died.
They adjusted the answers for factors ranging from socioeconomic background to drinking.
After looking at the primary form of exercise done by the participants, they found a clear link between longevity and social sports.
However, many participants reported doing various physical activities each week.
What are the best exercises for boosting life expectancy?
These group sports activities below were the main form of exercise for the participants.
Tennis came out on top, adding 9.7 years adding to their lifespan.
Next up, badminton could be expected to add 6.2 years.
And soccer possibly adding 4.7 years.
Although group exercises seem to be the best booster for lifespan, solo activities can also add to it.
The study found that jogging could add to 3.2 years, callisthenics 3.1 years and health club activities 1.5 years.
The length of the activities was very different for each participant, but the study suggests the duration doesn’t necessarily affect longevity.
For example, those who played tennis got about 520 minutes of the activity per week, compared to health club-goers spending almost 600 minutes exercising.
The findings of this new study may have some limitations as it only considered a narrow sample of the population.
There’s a lot of other research proving a link between social interactions and good health.
But this doesn’t mean solo forms of exercise are not good for you.
On the contrary, they can still prolong your life and offer other health benefits.
Source: Read Full Article