Fitness Outlives Alcohol: Study Shows Exercise Has Bigger Impact on Longevity

Poor physical fitness poses a greater health risk than moderate alcohol consumption, according to a comprehensive study conducted by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). The 16-year study, tracking nearly 25,000 healthy Norwegian adults, revealed a significantly higher risk of premature death among those with the lowest levels of fitness, regardless of their alcohol intake.

Researchers measured participants’ fitness levels relative to their age and gender, then correlated those results with mortality rates and alcohol consumption. The findings, initially reported by Aftonbladet, indicate that individuals with the poorest cardiovascular health faced substantially increased mortality risk, even if they did not drink alcohol.

Conversely, individuals with normal or good fitness levels exhibited low mortality risk, whether they abstained from alcohol or consumed small to moderate amounts. Professor Ulrik Wisløff, a key researcher involved in the study, emphasized the importance of interpreting the results carefully. “At the same time, population studies, including the HUNT study, present that for people who already drink small to moderate amounts of alcohol and maintain normal or good physical shape, the measurable mortality risk is low,” he told VG, a Norwegian news outlet.

The study highlights the particularly significant impact of exercise for those starting from a low fitness baseline – older adults, inactive individuals, and people with chronic illnesses. NTNU, located in Trondheim, Gjøvik and Ålesund, specializes in technology and natural sciences and currently has 40,000 students. The university’s research focuses on developing new technologies and methods to promote public health and medical innovation, including improved diagnostics, treatment, and disease prevention, according to the university’s website.

NTNU’s health and life sciences initiative aims to contribute to research on health in relation to environmental impacts and technological developments, with the goal of improving lives and healthcare services for people at all stages of life. The university’s researchers are working to increase knowledge about how physical, psychological, and social environments contribute to illness and promote health, and to identify effective preventative and health-promoting measures.