Healthy Lifestyle: 5 Keys to a Longer Life
Researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health conducted a study on the impact of health habits on life expectancy:
- Healthy diet: Intake of healthy foods and avoiding unhealthy ones.
- Healthy physical activity: At least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity daily.
- Healthy body weight: BMI between 18.5 and 24.9.
- No smoking: Never having smoked.
- Moderate alcohol intake: Defined limits for alcohol consumption.
Healthy habits significantly increase life expectancy:
- Meeting all five habits: 14 years longer for women, 12 years longer for men at age 50.
- Each healthy habit adds to life expectancy.
Research suggests focusing on prevention through public health efforts and policy changes:
- US spending on treatments vs. prevention is a concern.
- Experts recommend large-scale interventions for healthier living.
- Progress made with tobacco and trans-fat legislation.
- Pushback from industries against guidelines and laws for healthier living.
Sources:
- Circulation, April 2018
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- Health Affairs, August 2017
- Preventive Medicine, September 2012
- Lancet, January 2018
- The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Final Determination regarding Partially Hydrogenated Oils (trans fat)
- The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act