As we age we become less active.  By the time we reach our 60s and 70s, we’re spending 11 or 12 hours a day on the sofa. This is what health experts call a sedentary lifestyle.

A sedentary lifestyle opens the door for all kinds of health trouble, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and different cancer risks.  It also may contribute to obesity and diabetes.

In the past, conventional thinking was that some degree of moderate physical activity could help offset the effects of sitting.  Widely-held opinion was that 150 minutes per week was enough to stave-off the effects of sedentary living.  Physical activity was described as such things as a brisk walk.

But a new study has found that a more intensified exercise regimen can make a substantial difference in overall health.  Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology studied a cross-section of 495 women and 395 men from Norway, ages 70-77.   

Researchers compared periods of inactivity with those of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness.  The results showed that those who were the most fit had significantly less risk from the sedentary lifestyle.

The paper, which is part of the Generation 100 study and published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings was authored by Silvana Sandbakk.

“Our Western lifestyles necessarily involve a lot of sitting, and we spend more and more time sitting on average as we age. But our findings show that being fit plays an important part in successful aging and may lend protection against the negative health effects of being sedentary.” said Sandbakk.

While it is true that any level of physical activity is better than no physical activity, the more fit a person is, the less likely they are to die prematurely.

“Our findings contribute to the mounting evidence of the benefits of high cardiorespiratory fitness” added Sanbakk.

The aging process cannot be reversed or avoided.  But, with improved health, it can be slowed and your lifestyle can be much more enjoyable.