Longevity: relationship between biotypes and life expectancy

Your body size and sex are important in determining how long you will have a birthday, according to research published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health .

In the study, some factors such as height, weight and exercise are closely linked to the longevity of men and women.

For this, data from a survey carried out in 1986 were observed, in which about 7 thousand men and women between the ages of 55 and 69 years participated, answering about their weight and height when they were 20 years old.

The researchers also followed these people for years to see how some factors would influence their lives and how many would make it to 90.

In addition to weight and height, the rate of daily physical activity and smoking or drinking habits also played an important role in longevity.

In relation to the exercises, the participants were divided by the amount of time they dedicated to the movement of the body: those who did up to 30, 60 and 90 minutes daily were separated. Hiking, gardening, and home repairs were also part of the activities.

Among the 990 women who reached the age of 90, the majority were taller and underweight.

However, in the case of the 430 men who reached the control age, height did not play such an important role, and physical activity was the most related to male longevity.

Those who exercised the longest were 39% more likely to reach the control age.

For them, about 60 minutes a day represented 21% more chances of reaching the age of 90, however, doing more activities, such as 90 minutes a day, did not prove to be advantageous, since the chances remained the same.

What does the study point to?

The study was done through the observational method, which does not present the result in a concrete way, but which can bring good observations and reinforce some notions that, in general, we already know.

For example, body measurements or physical inactivity can have a direct cause with life expectancy.

These do contribute a lot to women’s and men’s health, especially in the fight against obesity and physical inactivity, since these conditions have affected the health of people all over the world, in alarming numbers.

And despite the increase in life expectancy in the world and advances in medicine, choosing a healthy lifestyle remains the best prevention against various diseases.

Therefore, physical exercise once again proved to be the best friend of anyone who cares about health.


Longevity and quality are essential in life. Simple and practical habits help to keep these two fundamentals in balance.

But it is also worth remembering that a routine of visits to the doctor must be maintained, either to monitor their activities or for that called general check-up.

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