Listen, we know that you’ve heard so many dire warnings about not exercising that you feel pretty numb to them. And we understand. It’s hard to hear that a lack of exercise is so dangerous especially when you are doing other things that are healthy.
But a new study is so intense we can’t ignore it. Researchers in Cleveland found that ignoring physical activity may be more harmful than smoking cigarettes. This does not mean it’s suddenly OK to pick up a pack of smokes and start puffing.
These researchers studied 120,000 people for almost 25 years. Studies like that do not make claims lightly, and this is not a light claim, according to this article:
“Cardiorespiratory fitness is inversely associated with long-term mortality with no observed upper limit of benefit,†the study says. “Extremely high aerobic fitness was associated with the greatest survival and was associated with benefit in older patients and those with hypertension.â€
We know this is nothing you haven’t heard, that more exercise makes you healthier. But the inverse of no exercise being that harmful cannot easily be ignored. The study indicated that smokers who exercised fared better than those who did not exercise or smoke. We have to imagine that smokers who exercise is a fairly small population.
So instead of fishing your pack of Camels out of the trash, head to the gym and work on your longterm health. Your friends and family will thank you.
-Shane M.
