A large new study confirms that exercise lowers the risk of many types of illness, and it goes a step further: It shows just how much the reduction in risk is.
People who exercised the most had a 42 percent lower risk of certain illness over 11 years than people who exercised the least, the study of 1.4 million people showed.
There are well known risk factors for specific types of illness, but exercise protected even obese people from these types of sickness, the study found. On average, the people in the study were slightly overweight.
“This finding may help encourage those who are overweight or obese to be physically active,” Moore’s team wrote.
While it’s always possible that people who are able to exercise more are healthier in other ways and less likely to develop certain typs of sickness for some other reason, experts say the evidence is very convincing that exercise directly affects overall health.
There are three possible ways exercise might lower risk, Moore said. It can lower levels of hormones such as estrogen, which in turn lowers risk, he said. It helps the body better regulate insulin, and it may lower inflammation.
One odd finding: exercise lowered the risk for specifiv typess of illness, but only among current and former smokers.
Exercisers did have a higher risk of certain types of illness, probably because they often exercised outside. The researchers stress that if you exercise outdoors, you need to use sunscreen.
by MAGGIE FOX
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