A new study published in The Lancet, based on health data from over 150,000 adults in the US, Sweden, Norway, and the UK, reveals significant benefits from minimal daily activity. The findings indicate that adding five minutes of daily exercise could prevent up to 6% of deaths in the least active group. If this practice were adopted across the entire population, the mortality rate could potentially decrease by up to 10%.

Beyond encouraging activity, researchers also examined the effects of reducing sedentary time. Their findings suggest that sitting 30 minutes less each day could prevent approximately 3% of deaths in the inactive group and 7% across the entire population.

People walking for exercise along the Han River, Da Nang. Photo: Nguyen Dong

Professor Ulf Ekelund of the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences emphasized, "In a community where 100,000 people die each year, we could save 7,000 lives simply by encouraging them to sit 30 minutes less."

Alyssa Lombardi, a physical physiologist at Hartford HealthCare, fully agrees with this perspective. She notes a growing movement towards natural lifestyles, with many opting to modify their habits rather than solely depending on prescription medication. "Movement is medicine, and even just five minutes can significantly improve a person's physical and mental well-being," she shared.

Doctor Bert Mandelbaum of Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedic Center offers an interesting perspective on "playspan"—the period of life we experience free from disability or disease.

He explains that our bodies possess "gene switches" inherited from our ancestors. Exercise is the key to activating these switches, allowing the body to adapt and become more resilient.

Our goal should not only be to extend the X-axis (lifespan) but also to elevate the Y-axis (healthspan). The more we maintain balance, good nutrition, and a robust musculoskeletal system, the larger the area under the "playspan" graph becomes. This allows you to enjoy a full, active life into your later years instead of living with infirmity.

Five minutes is comparable to the time it takes to brew a cup of coffee or wait for a bus. You could choose to take a brisk walk around the office, use the stairs instead of the elevator, or do a few light cardio exercises in your living room.

My Y (According to Medical News Today)