The Latest Medical News

A Summary of The Latest Medical News: **Small Steps to a Longer Life: Just 5 Extra Minutes of Movement Could Save Millions** A groundbreaking study published in *The Lancet* reveals that adding as little as **five extra minutes** of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) each day could prevent **6% of deaths** among the least active people, rising to **10%** when applied population-wide (excluding the most active).[1][2] **Massive Data from Real-World Tracking** Researchers crunched device-measured activity data from over **135,000 adults** across Norway, Sweden, the USA, and the UK, including UK Biobank's 94,719 participants.[1][2] This individual participant meta-analysis tracked how tiny habit tweaks—like those five minutes of brisk walking—impact mortality rates over time.[1] **Cutting Sitting Time Delivers Real Gains Too** Simply reducing sedentary time by **30 minutes a day** could avert **3% of deaths** in the least active group and up to **7.3%** across the broader population.[1][2] UK Biobank data showed a solid **4.5%** drop in total deaths from this change alone.[2] **Expert Insights: Realistic Changes for Everyone** "Small steps can have a large impact—you don’t need to run marathons," says co-author Maria Hagströmer, professor at Karolinska Institutet.[1] Fellow researcher Ing-Mari Dohrn emphasizes these tweaks are "more achievable than large lifestyle modifications," complementing—not replacing—regular exercise.[1] **Why It Matters for Public Health** These findings spotlight **high-risk approaches** targeting the bottom 20% least active, alongside population-wide strategies, proving modest MVPA boosts or less sitting yield outsized benefits without gym memberships or extreme overhauls.[2] For context, separate research shows exceeding standard guidelines (like 300-600 minutes weekly moderate activity) slashes all-cause mortality by **26-31%** and cardiovascular deaths by **28-38%**.[3] **Light Activity Joins the Party** Even light movement, like walking or chores, cuts early death risk by **14-20%** per extra hour daily in those with cardiovascular kidney metabolic syndrome, underscoring activity's broad power.[4] **Takeaway for Your Day** Swap 30 minutes of couch time for a brisk stroll or standing breaks—your body will thank you with years added to your life, backed by science from *The Lancet*.[1][2] Help with your insurance? https://tally.so/r/n012P9