Doing household chores can be as good as going to gym

There's a bright side to dreary chores, after all! Tracking 130,000 people in 17 countries, both rich and poor, a study found that whether it's going to the gym, walking to work, or tackling household chores like laundry or gardening, being physically active extends life and reduces illness.

Researchers said that one in 12 global deaths over a five-year period can be prevented through 30 minutes of physical activity - which can include house-cleaning or walking to work -five days a week. "Being highly active (750 minutes a week) is associated with an even greater reduction," according to a study published in 'The Lancet' medical journal.

The study "confirms on a global scale that physical activity is associated with a lower risk of mortality and cardiovascular disease", the authors said in a press statement. This was irrespective of which country the study participants came from, the type of activity, or whether it was undertaken for leisure or as part of daily transport or housework.

WHO recommends at least 150 minutes of "moderate-intensity", or 75 minutes of "vigorousintensity" aerobic physical activity per week. According to the study authors, almost a quarter of the world's population does not meet this requirement. The new study showed that "walking for as little as 30 minutes most days of the week has a substantial benefit", said lead author Scott Lear of the Simon Fraser University in Canada.

The study included participants aged 35 to 70 from urban and rural areas in rich and poor nations. They were followed over nearly seven years. The researchers noted how many suffered heart attacks, stroke or heart failure, among other diseases, and compared these figures to the individuals' physical activity levels. "Of the 106,970 people who met the activity guidelines, 3.8% developed cardiovascular disease, compared to 5.1% of people who did not," said the authors.

Source: AFP