A huge study on aging and longevity has recently been released The journal Nature Medicine.
The researchers examined the health data of almost half a million members British Biobank To find out how 164 factors have affected aging, premature death and incidents of age -related diseases.
He found that environmental factors, that some scientists call “exposure”. could have almost nine times more effect on how you age than your genes (2% against 17% for 22 major conditions).
23 of the 25 environmental risk factors for early death and accelerated aging, which included smoking, were “modifiable” According to the Oxford website (Oxford Population Health conducted the study).
And two lifestyle in particular were associated with lower results.
What lifestyle factors can most affect aging and longevity affect?
THE Five most impactful environments The variables were the living conditions of the participants, the socioeconomic status, the status of smoking, the frequency to which they feel tired and the levels of physical activity.
Among these, two (not smoking and not doing the exercise) are more easily modifiable.
Smoking was linked to 21 common health conditions; For low physical activity, it was 17.
Other risk factors (which are not all environmental or modifiable) include:
- Cheese consumption
- Feel in fed up
- If your mother smoked pregnant
- How often you feel non -enthusiastic
- That you lived with a partner
- How do you sit
- What is the ease of tanning your skin
- How many years have you spent in education
- Your employment status
- Ethnic
- Frequency of feeling tired
- Use of the gymnasium
- History of financial difficulties
- Household income
- Physical activity
- How many hours of sleep
- Smoking status
- The type of accommodation in which you live
- Use of an open fire for heating
- Your weight and size at 10 years old.
“Modifiable” factors can still be influenced by politics
The surprisingly important effect of “exposure” on your health is not supposed to blame individuals for their health, according to scientists.
Speaking to OxfordProfessor Bryan Williams, in scientific chief and doctor of the British Heart Foundation, said: “Your income, your postal code and your history should not determine your chances of living a long and healthy life. But this pioneer study is strengthening that it is reality for too many people. »»
He added: “We need a daring action of government emergency to target over-fitting obstacles to good health with which too many people in the United Kingdom face.”