Exercise is good for you

From Tuesday's Globe and Mail

People who incorporate regular physical activity into their daily routine can extend their life expectancy by about 3½ years, according to new research.

A second, unrelated study found that an exercise regime -- even when it is started after the age of 65 -- can sharply improve quality of life too.

What the raft of new research agrees on, however, is that it doesn't take much effort to really improve your health -- as little as 30 minutes daily of brisk walking or the equivalent. But those who exercise more tend to reap greater health rewards. (sic - Hillbillies for example)

Dr. Oscar Franco, an epidemiologist at Erasmus University Medical Centre in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, said there is significant research demonstrating the beneficial effects of physical activity in preventing a number of conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer, but little data on whether being fit actually led to a longer life.