A study of more than 700,000 U.S. veterans found that eight specific healthy lifestyle habits adopted in middle age can significantly extend lifespan, combat chronic disease and improve longevity. The role of lifestyle in promoting
A large study details the increase in life expectancy associated with healthy lifestyle choices.
A new study of more than 700,000 U.S. veterans found that those who practiced eight healthy lifestyle habits by middle age were significantly more likely to lose weight than those who had few or none of these habits. It has been reported that people can live longer. The eight habits were: physical activity, opioid addiction freedom, smoking cessation, stress management, eating well, not binge eating and drinking regularly, good sleep hygiene, and positive social behavior. It’s about having a relationship.
The results show that men who have all eight habits at age 40 are expected to live an average of 24 years longer than men who have none of these habits. For women, having all eight healthy lifestyle elements in middle age was predicted to increase lifespan by 21 years compared to women who had none of these habits.
“We were really surprised at how much benefit you could get by incorporating one, two, three, or even all eight lifestyle factors,” says Veterans Affairs Health. said Xuan-Mai T. Nguyen, the fourth-ranked scientific expert. Medical student at Carle Illinois College of Medicine. “Our findings suggest that adopting a healthy lifestyle is important for both public health and personal health. Even just a few changes in your 60s can make a difference.”
Study details and results
Nguyen presented the findings at NUTRITION 2023, the American Academy of Nutrition’s major annual meeting.
In this study, scientists compared 719,147 people enrolled in the VA Million Veterans Program, a large, nationally representative study of U.S. veterans from 2011 to 2019. We used collected medical records and questionnaire data. The analysis included data on adults aged 40 to 99, including 33,375 people who died during follow-up.
![The influence of lifestyle factors on life expectancy in men](https://scitechdaily.com/images/Impact-of-Lifestyle-Factors-on-Life-Expectancy-in-Males-777x423.png 777w,https://scitechdaily.com/images/Impact-of-Lifestyle-Factors-on-Life-Expectancy-in-Males-400x218.png 400w,https://scitechdaily.com/images/Impact-of-Lifestyle-Factors-on-Life-Expectancy-in-Males-768x418.png 768w,https://scitechdaily.com/images/Impact-of-Lifestyle-Factors-on-Life-Expectancy-in-Males-1536x835.png 1536w,https://scitechdaily.com/images/Impact-of-Lifestyle-Factors-on-Life-Expectancy-in-Males-2048x1114.png 2048w)
Estimated impact of adopting a different number of healthy lifestyle factors on increasing life expectancy in men compared to men without any of these habits. Although adopting healthier lifestyle factors at a younger age is associated with the greatest increase in life expectancy, adopting some of these factors, or even just incorporating them later in life, still significantly increases life expectancy. may lead to longer lifespan.Credit: VA Million Veterans Program
Overall, the results showed that decreased physical activity, opioid use, and smoking had the greatest impact on lifespan. These factors were associated with an approximately 30-45% increased risk of death during the study period. Stress, binge drinking, poor diet, and poor sleep hygiene were each associated with an approximately 20% increased risk of death, and a lack of positive social relationships was associated with a 5% increased risk of death.
![The influence of lifestyle factors on women's life expectancy](https://scitechdaily.com/images/Impact-of-Lifestyle-Factors-on-Life-Expectancy-in-Females-777x417.png 777w,https://scitechdaily.com/images/Impact-of-Lifestyle-Factors-on-Life-Expectancy-in-Females-400x215.png 400w,https://scitechdaily.com/images/Impact-of-Lifestyle-Factors-on-Life-Expectancy-in-Females-768x413.png 768w,https://scitechdaily.com/images/Impact-of-Lifestyle-Factors-on-Life-Expectancy-in-Females-1536x825.png 1536w,https://scitechdaily.com/images/Impact-of-Lifestyle-Factors-on-Life-Expectancy-in-Females-2048x1100.png 2048w)
Estimates of the impact of adopting a different number of healthy lifestyle factors on increasing life expectancy in women compared to women who do not have any of these habits. Adopting healthier lifestyle elements at a young age is associated with the greatest increase in life expectancy, but incorporating some of these elements, or even just incorporating them later in life, is still significant. may lead to longer lifespan.Credit: VA Million Veterans Program
Impact and future directions
The findings, the researchers say, support the implication of lifestyle factors in chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, which lead to premature disability and death. The results also help quantify how healthy lifestyle choices help people reduce their risk of such diseases and live longer.
“Lifestyle medicine aims to treat the root cause of a chronic disease, not the symptoms,” Nguyen says. “This offers a potentially reversal of the ever-increasing medical costs of prescription drugs and surgical procedures.”
The estimated increase in life expectancy from adopting the eight healthy lifestyle factors became slightly smaller with increasing age, but remained significant. This means that adopting healthier habits as you get older can still help you live longer. “It’s never too late to adopt a healthy lifestyle,” says Nguyen.
As an observational study, Nguyen noted that the study does not definitively prove a cause-and-effect relationship. However, this finding is consistent with a growing body of research supporting the role of lifestyle factors in preventing chronic disease and promoting healthy aging.