Overview

• The study pooled data from 85 longitudinal analyses and found that adults with regular physical activity had a 30–40% lower risk of all-cause mortality.
• Adults who increased exercise from below recommended levels to meet WHO targets experienced a 20–25% reduction in death risk.
• Transitioning from inactivity to consistent activity lowered early death risk by about 22% compared with remaining sedentary.
• Regular exercise was associated with roughly a 40% drop in cardiovascular mortality and a 25% decrease in cancer-related deaths.
• Most longevity gains occurred between 150 and 300 minutes of weekly activity, with minimal additional benefit beyond that and loss of benefits if exercise ceased.