Some Iowa State University researchers, who've found running will make you live longer, have won an international award.
The findings, published by the journal Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, show running is the single most effective lifestyle factor, in increasing life expectancy, even more important than obesity or smoking.
The published article was selected for an Elsevier Atlas Award from recently published articles in more than 2,500 journals due to its significant impact on people’s health worldwide.
Data from more than 55,000 individuals who participated in the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study revealed the runners had a 25 to 40 percent reduced risk of premature mortality.
The research found runners lived approximately three years longer than non-runners — which equates to seven hours of life expectancy gained for every hour spent running.
The results showed that running had no significant negative effect for most populations. Those with a history of coronary heart disease saw significant health benefits by running less than 80 minutes per week.