Will adopting a healthy lifestyle in middle age improve your health?
The answer is yes — especially among people with high blood pressure, diabetes, or low socioeconomic status — according to researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.
First, the details.
- The study included more than 15,000 adults age 45-64 years.
- A healthy lifestyle was defined as at least 5 fruits and vegetables daily, regular exercise, body mass index (BMI) 18.5-29.9 kg/m2 (normal to overweight), and no current smoking.
And, the results.
- Over 4 years, those who were able to adopt the healthy lifestyle had lower total mortality and cardiovascular disease events compared to those who did not.
- Men; African Americans; and individuals with lower socioeconomic status, or a history of high blood pressure or diabetes were less likely to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
The bottom line?
The results are important in that they show results that all of us can relate to.
The authors concluded, “People who newly adopt a healthy lifestyle in middle-age experience a prompt benefit of lower rates of cardiovascular disease and mortality.”
8/27/07 22:06 JR
