Push-ups and sit-ups can add years to your life, according to a new study of more than 80,000 adults led by the University of Sydney. The largest study to compare the mortality outcomes of different types of exercise found that people who did strength-based exercise had a 23 percent lower risk of premature death in some way, and a 31 percent lower risk of cancer-related death. The analysis also showed that exercises performed with one's own body weight without specific equipment were just as effective as gym-based training.
Summary of key findings:
* Participation in strength-enhancing exercise was associated with a 23 percent reduction in all-cause mortality and a 31 percent reduction in cancer deaths
* Own body-weight exercises that can be performed in any setting without equipment performed, yielded comparable results on gym-based activities
* Compliance with the strength-enhancing exercise guideline alone was associated with a reduced risk of cancer-related death, but compliance with aerobic exercise alone was not
* Compliance with combined strength-enhancing exercise and aerobic guidelines was associated with a greater risk reduction in mortality than aerobic physical activity alone
* There was no evidence for an association between strength-enhancing exercise and cardiovascular disease mortality.
