No Evidence Exercise Increases Lifespan

[starting over]

If my subject got your attention, then the article that I read that provoked it got mine. It states that there is no scientific evidence that regular exercise increases longevity. I was shocked when I read the article.

I am not a scientist, of course, but I disagree with the scientists on this one. I will use common sense as my reasoning point and let them do all their lab studies they care to.

Let's start off with the fact that exercise will keep you at a more healthy weight, which will help prevent heart disease. Since heart disease is a leading killer, wouldn't that mean that because you exercised and prevented heart disease wouldn't you be likely to live longer? There is a laundry list of good things that exercise does for the human body and mind, I just don't buy what they are selling. I'll stick with the "if you don't use it you lose it" theory and keep up with my regular exercise program!

You can read for yourself if you like and decide.

Read Article

 

[oldhippie]

I read that article and I think it is bunk. Just think about people you know who exercise regularly vs those who do not. For the most part the exercisers will live longer because they are healthier. Wonder what that dude was smoking when me wrote that article?

 

[texas gal]

Have to agree with you oldhippie. I have lived a few years and have seen what happens to folks who do not exercise. When they get in their 60's they start have problems walking, moving around, getting up and down, and so forth. Heck it don't take much, a daily brisk walk will help tremendously. Anything to keep it moving, once you stop moving you are done.

 

[Thomas_Allen]

I think there might be some credence in what the author is trying to point out. I do not believe that exercising prevents aging. I mean, exercising makes you feel good about yourself, and you may "feel" like you're 20 again, but you are still aging nonetheless. I believe exercise helps with Cardiovascular disease, but for other diseases, I'm not so sure. The under nutrition part makes sense to me also. If you are under-nourished your body tries to preserve the nutrients it has, so it's processes slow do, but again, he doesn't state his sources for this evidence. He also mentions there is a possible detrimental effects of cognition that have yet to be studied with long-term under nutrition.

But the thing I agree with the most is the following:
"For most people, the quality of their lives is more important than the quantity."
I'm not going to under nourish myself or stop exercising because it "may" increase my life. I know that exercising increases the quality of my life, and eating well also increases that quality. This would have been a better article if he provided specific studies for the "evidence" he claims, but that would not change my mind about wanting to eat right and exercise.

 

[johtootie]

There is literature on the benefits of exercise in regards to managing chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and stroke (which are all leading causes of death). Try doing a Google Scholar search on the internet and it should pull up the research evidence that backs you.

If my subject got your attention, then the article that I read that provoked it got mine. It states that there is no scientific evidence that regular exercise increases longevity. I was shocked when I read the article.

I am not a scientist, of course, but I disagree with the scientists on this one. I will use common sense as my reasoning point and let them do all their lab studies they care to.

Let's start off with the fact that exercise will keep you at a more healthy weight, which will help prevent heart disease. Since heart disease is a leading killer, wouldn't that mean that because you exercised and prevented heart disease wouldn't you be likely to live longer? There is a laundry list of good things that exercise does for the human body and mind, I just don't buy what they are selling. I'll stick with the "if you don't use it you lose it" theory and keep up with my regular exercise program!

You can read for yourself if you like and decide.



[/quote]