Staying active throughout middle age may lower women's risk of dying early
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- Reviewed by Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
We already know that exercising in midlife is tied to longevity. But how much of a difference can it make? Quite a bit: women who consistently meet physical activity guidelines through this stage of life appear to have significantly lower odds of dying prematurely, according to a study published online March 26, 2026, by PLOS Medicine.
Researchers analyzed data from 11,169 women born between 1946 and 1951 who were surveyed about their exercise habits every three years between 1996 and 2019 (when they were approximately 50 to 73 years old). The women reported how often they met the World Health Organization's recommendation of at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week. Deaths were tracked using national registries through the later years of the study.
The researchers found that participants who consistently met exercise recommendations throughout middle age were about half as likely to die from any cause during the study period than peers who were inactive. It was unclear whether starting to exercise consistently later in midlife offered the same benefit as staying active all along. The study was observational, meaning it couldn't prove that consistent exercise averted early death - just that an association exists.
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About the Author
Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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