Over 70s Live longer If They increase Their Activity

Three hundred active community-dwelling seniors aged 70 to 82 volunteered for a series of examinations that measured their total energy expenditure. Using a number of tests and calculations, their activity energy expenditure was determined, and their self-reported physical activity level over a 7-day period was assessed based on an interviewer’s questionnaire. They were followed for 6 years, with their survival checked by telephone every 6 months.

The findings of this study were reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association. During the 6 years, 55 participants (18.2%) died. There was a clear-cut association between the risk of death and the activity energy expenditure; for every 287 calorie/day increase in activity expenditure there was a 32% lower risk of mortality. Another way of looking at this – with the participants divided into 3 groups according to their energy expenditure, those in the top group had one third the mortality of those in the lowest third.

Using the same way of analysis – three groups, but this time with self-reported physical activity measured – the risk for death in the 6-year period was 12% in the most active, 18% in the middle third, and 25% in the least active group.

It’s interesting that the measure of activity based on actual lab-testing of the subjects at baseline gave a higher estimate of protection than the self-reported level of activity. And it’s also interesting that the volunteers with the highest level of energy expenditure were more likely to work for pay and climb stairs. Maybe, as an older person, I should get a job as a messenger in an office block without an elevator.