Going running may offset diseases that run in the family, according to the first study of its kind.
A healthy lifestyle, which includes things like regular exercise, good sleep, not smoking and eating a healthy diet, can add over five years to your life, according to a study published in the journal BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine.
Some people’s genes put them at risk for an earlier death but the study found that a healthy lifestyle can counter someone’s genetics by 62%.
Researchers from Zhejiang University School of Medicine in China and the University of Edinburgh in Scotland used data from over 350,000 people. They analyzed their genetics, education, socioeconomic status, lifestyle and disease history.
People were assigned a polygenetic score, a score used to determine how certain genes impact lifespan, and a score to determine how healthy their lifestyle was. They followed the participants for an average of 13 years.
During this time 24,239 deaths occurred.
The study found that people who lived an unhealthy lifestyle had a 78% increased chance of early death regardless of what their genetic risk was.
People who never smoked, adhered to a healthy diet, and exercised regularly significantly increased their chances of living healthier and longer lives.
“Participants with high genetic risk could prolong approximately 5.22 years of life expectancy at age 40 with a favorable lifestyle,” the authors wrote.
“Genetic and lifestyle factors were independently associated with lifespan. Adherence to healthy lifestyles could largely attenuate the genetic risk of a shorter lifespan or premature death. The optimal combination of healthy lifestyles could convey better benefits for a longer lifespan, regardless of genetic background,” the authors concluded.