Exercise 30 minutes a day and add five years to your life

A REGULAR amount of “moderate” physical activity can add five years to your life, world health experts said yesterday.

The World Health Organisation used Move for Health Day yesterday to highlight new British and Danish research reinforcing what doctors have insisted for years — that exercise has real long-term benefits.

Unconvinced couch potatoes may finally be galvanised by the fact that scientists are putting a figure on the potential extra life expectancy — between three and five years on average, compared with those who take little or no exercise. And those worried about just how much jiggling about is required to qualify as “moderate” exercise may be reassured by a statement from the World Health organisation’s Europe office: “WHO encourages adults to take at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day, defined as any body movement that results in energy expenditure. This includes walking, cycling, playing, housework, climbing stairs as well as sports. Children should take at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.”