Let's Get Moving! Vigorous Exercise Helps Expand Your Lifespan

New findings published in JAMA Internal Medicine show that exercise that gets you sweaty and your heart pumping could significantly increase the length of your lifespan.

Researchers followed 204,542 people over six years and compared participants involved in moderate activity to those who also incorporated vigorous exercise into their regular lives. Findings revealed that those who exercised vigorously had between a 9 and 13 percent reduced risk of mortality.

The study participants were split into three groups: those said none of their physical activity was vigorous; those who reported that up 30 percent of their activity was vigorous; and those who said they more than 30 percent of their exercise was vigorous.

"The benefits of vigorous activity applied to men and women of all ages, and were independent of the total amount of time spent being active," said lead author Klaus Gebel from James Cook University's Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention, in a news release. "The results indicate that whether or not you are obese, and whether or not you have heart disease or diabetes, if you can manage some vigorous activity it could offer significant benefits for longevity."

The findings highlight the need for clinical and public health guidelines to put more of an emphasis on the importance of vigorous exercise in everyday life activities.

As it stands, the World Health Organization currently advises adults to perform about 150 minutes of moderate activity to 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week.

Those who participated in the most vigorous activity had the lowest mortality risk overall, suggesting that even small amount of intense activities regularly can help reduce death risk. Furthermore, it could be particularly beneficial for those with chronic illnesses.

"Previous studies indicate that interval training, with short bursts of vigorous effort, is often manageable for older people, including those who are overweight or obese," researchers concluded.