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According to the study, body weight plays a less important role in longevity than fitness. © IMAGO / YAY Images
Does physical activity play a bigger role in lifespan than weight? A current meta-study provides answers.
Most people strive to live a long, healthy life. Some people rely on regular exercise to bring their physical fitness to a good level. Others focus on a healthy diet and/or fasting periods to keep body weight down. The question is, which is more important for a long life. A current study addressed this question and shows which aspect plays a greater role.
Study design and key results
The study, a systematic review and meta-analysis, includes 20 studies with a total of 398,716 adults from different countries and was conducted in British Journal of Sports Medicine published. The relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and body mass index (BMI) in relation to the risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality was examined.
The reference group consisted of people of normal weight and fit. This was compared with normal weight and unfit people, overweight and unfit people, and obese and unfit people.
Explanation of terms
Die cardiorespiratory fitness is according to the German journal for sports medicine one of the most important health markers. It is determined by the interaction of the lungs, heart, blood vessels and muscles, all of which are involved in the transport of O2 and CO2 in the body.
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is intended to help assess whether a person is underweight, normal weight or overweight. The following formula is used for the calculation: BMI = weight (in kilograms) / height (in meters)². Adults are considered underweight with a BMI of less than 18.5, normal weight between 18.5 and 24.9, overweight between 25 and 29.9, and obese with a BMI of more than 30. Even if the BMI offers guidance, it is not without controversy because pure weight does not indicate the exact body composition (e.g. proportion of fat and muscle mass).
In general, the poorer the cardiorespiratory fitness and the higher the BMI, the greater the risk of cardiovascular or metabolic diseases.
The researchers found that being fit is more important than being thin when it comes to mortality risk. Regardless of BMI, it is shown that fit people do not have a significantly increased risk of mortality compared to fit people of normal weight. In contrast, all BMI categories classified as unfit have a two- to three-fold increased risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality compared to normal-weight, fit individuals.
The study is based on data from large epidemiological studies. The researchers used a three-stage model to analyze the data to assess the relationship between CRF and BMI on mortality risks. “As it turns out, fitness is much more important than obesity when it comes to risk of death,” Siddhartha Angadi, one of the study’s lead authors, said in a statement Announcement from the University of Virginia quoted. Being fit, even if one is considered overweight, significantly reduces the risk of mortality.
Limitations of the study
However, the study has some limitations. A majority of the participants come from the USA. In addition, much of the data comes from cohorts with cardiovascular disease. This could limit the generalizability of the results. After all, the study offers a greater representation of women (33 percent) compared to previous studies, making the results more diverse.
Social significance of the results
Society tends to equate body weight and body fat with health status. The present study opens a new perspective. Rather than focusing on weight loss to improve health metrics, the approach of increasing fitness could be more effective. This could also help avoid the risks associated with repeated weight loss attempts.
“Exercise is more than just a way to burn calories. It is excellent ‘medicine’ to optimize overall health and significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality for people of all sizes,” emphasizes Angadi.
Another study examined what time of day it is best to exercise if you want to prolong your life – you can find out more here.
This will bring more exercise into your everyday life and increase your fitness
This study should encourage you that exercise and sport, even if you have problems losing weight, have a positive effect on your health, fitness and longevity. If you want to start moving more, do it in small steps. For example, integrate short walks of around 30 minutes into your everyday life several times a week or download our free walking training plan and follow it.
In our PDF library you will also find many other training plans for different fitness levels that you can download for free (after simply registering) – for example for running, trail running, cycling or the gym.
The author is a former competitive athlete and certified fitness trainer.
