Berlin (dpa) - Taking a minimum of 15 minutes of exercise a day
can extend life expectancy by up to three years, according to
Germany's Society of Neurologists and the Stroke Society.
A regular program of exercise can reduce the risk of stroke,
cardiovascular illness, cancer and diabetes. The advice is based on a
study of over 400,000 participants in Taiwan whose health status was
checked regularly over eight years.
The study discovered that 15 minutes of exercise a day made a
surprising contribution to improving overall health. The mortality
rate for those who took the exercise was 14 per cent lower than the
inactive participants.
Extrapolating the results over 30 years resulted in a projected
extended life expectancy of three years as well as a reduced chance
of developing cancer and diseases of the cardiovascular system. The
conclusion was that the more a person exercises, the less chance they
have of falling ill.
The recommended 15 minutes a day is half what the World Health
Organisation advises people to take.