Spending more time watching TV is linked to a lower likelihood of aging healthily. Each additional two hours of TV watching daily reduces the chances of maintaining good health in older age by 12%.
Engaging in light physical activities, such as walking or standing, improves the odds of healthy aging. Replacing one hour of TV time with LPA increases the chances of healthy aging by 8-10%.
The study was conducted over 20 years with over 45,000 participants from the Nurses' Health Study, examining the effects of sedentary behavior and light physical activity on healthy aging.
Moderate to vigorous physical activity provides significant health benefits, with an hour of such activities increasing the odds of healthy aging by 28%.
Even small increases in physical activity, especially light activities, can contribute to healthier aging. This is crucial for older adults who may find vigorous exercise challenging.
Simple changes like standing while working or doing household chores can have substantial health benefits, emphasizing the importance of reducing sedentary time.
Light physical activities help reduce the risk of chronic diseases, improve mental health, boost energy levels, and aid in maintaining a healthy weight.
There is growing evidence that minimal exercise is better than none, and even low levels of physical activity offer significant health benefits, contributing to a longer, healthier life.