News: Is this the secret to staying disease-free for life?

Can chronic diseases like heart problems, diabetes, stroke, cancer and Alzheimer’s all be prevented with one simple solution?

According to a new study, yes.

The study, published by the Archives of Internal Medicine, shows that people with higher fitness levels battle fewer chronic conditions in the last five years of life.

Looking at 18,670 healthy participants who survived to receive Medicare coverage from January 1, 1999, to December 31, 2009, the researchers estimated fitness levels with a treadmill test (adjusting for age, body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels, alcohol use, and smoking). Associations between midlife fitness and eight common chronic conditions were then assessed.

‘The results show that fitness can not only delay morbidity but prevent it,’ lead researcher Dr. Jarrett Berry of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center told Time Healthland.

The study’s authors concluded ‘fitness was significantly associated with a lower risk of developing chronic disease outcomes during 26 years of follow-up.’

So, if you want to spend the last years of your life disease-free, either hit the gym or start going for a daily jog or bike ride‘it could mean the difference between spending your time in a hospital bed or your home.

What do you think? Does being fit provide a better quality of life?

-Katharine Watts, Associate Web Editor

Related:
‘ 8 ways exercise helps beat disease
‘ 5 ways to make your heart live longer
‘ 8 ways to prevent diabetes