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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research article

Long-term health benefits of physical activity – a systematic review of longitudinal studies

Authors: Miriam Reiner, Christina Niermann, Darko Jekauc, Alexander Woll

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

Background

The treatment of noncommunicable diseases (NCD), like coronary heart disease or type 2 diabetes mellitus, causes rising costs for the health system. Physical activity is supposed to reduce the risk for these diseases. Results of cross-sectional studies showed that physical activity is associated with better health, and that physical activity could prevent the development of these diseases. The purpose of this review is to summarize existing evidence for the long-term (>5 years) relationship between physical activity and weight gain, obesity, coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Methods

Fifteen longitudinal studies with at least 5-year follow up times and a total of 288,724 subjects (>500 participants in each study), aged between 18 and 85 years, were identified using digital databases. Only studies published in English, about healthy adults at baseline, intentional physical activity and the listed NCDs were included.

Results

The results of these studies show that physical activity appears to have a positive long-term influence on all selected diseases.

Conclusions

This review revealed a paucity of long-term studies on the relationship between physical activity and the incidence of NCD.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Long-term health benefits of physical activity – a systematic review of longitudinal studies
Authors
Miriam Reiner
Christina Niermann
Darko Jekauc
Alexander Woll
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-813

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