Any amount of running is linked to a significantly lower risk of death from any cause, finds a pooled analysis of the available evidence.
According to a recent scientific study, any amount of running, even if it is not for long or fast, is associated with a lower risk of death from any cause.
The study was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, and the researchers who conducted it analyzed 14 studies involving 232,149 people over a period of 5.5 to 35 years. During this time, 25,951 study participants passed away. The researchers found that running was associated with a 27% lower risk of death from all causes, a 30% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease, and a 23% lower risk of death from cancer. Even small doses of running, such as once weekly or less, lasting less than 50 minutes each time, and at a speed below 6 miles (8 km) an hour, were associated with significant health benefits.
The researchers cautioned that this was an observational study, which means that it cannot establish a cause-and-effect relationship. Additionally, the number of studies included in the analysis was small and their methods varied considerably, which could have influenced the results. Nevertheless, the researchers concluded that any amount of running is better than none, and increasing rates of participation in running, regardless of its dose, would likely lead to substantial improvements in population health and longevity.
The study’s findings suggest that running is a potentially good option for people who struggle with fitting exercise into their busy schedules. Even running for 25 minutes less than the recommended weekly duration of vigorous physical activity could help reduce the risk of death. The researchers did note that it is not clear how good running is for staving off the risk of death from any cause, and it is unclear how much running a person needs to do to reap these benefits.
Overall, this study provides evidence that any amount of running is associated with a lower risk of death from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. These findings suggest that people should try to incorporate running into their exercise routine, even if they can only run for short periods of time at a low pace. The researchers encourage individuals to speak with their doctors before starting any new exercise routine, especially if they have a pre-existing health condition or are not used to exercising regularly.