the nuance
What’s the Ideal Amount of Exercise For a Long Life?
Beyond a certain point, exercise may be little more than physical abuse.
The word “marathon” comes from a Greek legend. The story goes that Philippides, a messenger, ran from the Battle of Marathon all the way to Athens, some 26 miles away, to deliver news of the Athenians’ victory over the invading Persians.
“Joy,” he announced. “We have won!” And then he dropped dead.
Most marathoners I know recognize that running 26.2 miles is not “good” for their body. It’s a punishing physical ordeal, which is kind of the point; if it were easy, why do it? Most have also heard (and, frankly, are probably tired of hearing) about the links between marathon running and heart problems — from mid-race cardiac arrest to lasting structural deformations.
That marathon research raises some important questions about the longevity consequences of various exercise volumes. How much physical activity is too much? And what amount is optimal?
Those are questions some recent studies have attempted to answer.
Last year, research in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings examined the links between weekly exercise and mortality outcomes. Using long-term data from nearly…
