Better to get up for a workout or keep sleeping? The study that provides a surprising answer

A new study based on UK Biobank data examined whether it is worth replacing half an hour of sleep with physical activity. It found that replacing sleep with vigorous activity was associated with lower mortality across all groups. For moderate activity, among those who sleep 7-9 hours, exercise is preferable, while among those who sleep little, preserving sleep is better.

Gali Winerb's 'Longevity Science' column in Globes reviews three new studies related to health and aging. The main study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology and based on UK Biobank data of about 69,000 participants, examined whether it is worth replacing half an hour of sleep with physical activity. It found that replacing sleep with vigorous activity was associated with lower mortality across all groups. In contrast, for moderate activity, the picture depended on sleep habits: among those who sleep 7-9 hours, exercise is preferable; among those who sleep little, preserving sleep was better. A second study, by the German institute DZNE, examined ten dietary patterns and found that all were associated with improvements in aging markers, with long-term adherence being more important than choosing a specific pattern. A third study from Cairo University showed that walking in water, especially combining backward walking, improves knee pain. The article notes that the overall effect of diet on aging is 'not massive'.