Higher Fitness Levels in Midlife Tied too Reduced Risk of Multiple Chronic Diseases, Study Finds
LONDON - Individuals with higher levels of aerobic fitness in midlife are substantially less likely to develop multiple chronic diseases later in life, according to research published recently in JAMA Network Open. the study, utilizing data from the UK Biobank, suggests that cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) might potentially be a crucial, yet frequently enough overlooked, indicator of long-term health and a valuable tool for risk stratification.
Researchers analyzed data from over 474,984 participants, finding a strong inverse relationship between CRF – measured through a formula estimating VO2 max – and the advancement of multimorbidity, defined in the study as the presence of two or more chronic conditions.The study demonstrated that higher fitness levels were associated with a lower likelihood of accumulating a range of conditions,including cardiovascular disease,type 2 diabetes,and certain cancers.
“We found that being fit appears to offset the increased risk for multimorbidity that comes with aging,” explained lead author Dr. Rosalind J. Wright, Professor of Public Health at the University of North carolina at Chapel hill, in a statement accompanying the research.
Experts emphasize the importance of measuring aerobic fitness directly, similar to how blood pressure or lipid levels are assessed. “Fitness deserves broader consideration in midlife health assessments,” stated Dr. Claudio Araújo, a researcher at the University of São Paulo, commenting on the study. He added that CRF provides a “system-wide snapshot of physiological reserve and disease vulnerability” and could be a valuable addition to clinical risk-stratification tools.
While acknowledging the study’s strengths – including its large sample size and investigation of multimorbidity – Araújo also pointed out potential limitations, specifically the challenges in defining and analyzing multimorbidity due to the inclusion of conditions with broad criteria and the omission of others. He also questioned the accuracy of CRF estimations based on formulas used in the study.
Despite these caveats,the findings reinforce the growing body of evidence demonstrating that physical fitness is a stronger predictor of health outcomes than physical activity alone. “Remember Charles Darwin,” Araújo said. “Only the fittest will survive!” The research underscores the potential for personalized fitness interventions to promote healthy aging and reduce the burden of chronic disease.
