Exercising 5 minutes more and sitting 30 minutes less can save millions of lives – study

Updated: 14-01-2026, 12.49 PM

What is the news?

Exercise is important for the body, but do you know that its regular practice can have a positive effect on your age? According to a study recently published in the Lancet journal, doing just 5 minutes of extra exercise daily and sitting 30 minutes less can increase your lifespan. This study highlights the mass benefits of making small lifestyle changes. Let us know about it in detail.

Study conducted on 1,35,000 people

The study, conducted on 1,35,000 people from countries such as Britain, the US, Norway and Sweden, found that moderate-intensity physical activity, such as an extra five minutes of brisk walking every day, was associated with an estimated 10 percent reduction in mortality. The researchers, led by the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, also found that sitting 30 minutes less each day reduced all-cause mortality by an estimated 7 percent.

Doing 5 minutes extra exercise will increase your lifespan – Aidan Doherty

The greatest benefit was seen when the least active 20 percent of the population increased their activity by five minutes a day. Professor Aidan Doherty of the Department of Population Health, Oxford University said that through this study people will be able to understand the importance of physical activity. He further said that every person should do vigorous exercise for 5 minutes more than his scheduled time and should also avoid sitting idle for 30 minutes.

Everyone should do moderate activities – Daniel Bailey

“It’s a really promising finding that just five minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a day can save lives. This should be possible for most people, even those who already do very little physical activity,” said Daniel Bailey, Reader in Sedentary Behavior and Health at Brunel University of London. He further explained that breathing becomes a little faster during moderate level activities.

further studies

Another study also revealed the same thing

Similarly, another study published in the e-Clinical Medicine journal also found that making small improvements in sleep, physical activity and diet can prolong life. For example, 5 minutes of extra sleep, 2 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity and eating an extra number of vegetables per day can add a year to life expectancy among people who have the worst sleep, physical activity and dietary habits.