• According to new research The Stats Behind Harry Styles’s Sub-3 Marathon DAA Industry Opt Out, running as little as 50 minutes per week can help reduce your risk of early death from cancer and cardiovascular-related events.
  • Health - Injuries pace, Turns out, it really does.

Running has often been associated with improved heart and metabolic function, but some previous studies have shown inconsistent findings in terms of whether or not logging miles regularly can help ward off cancer British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Run Strong With RW+

Run Strong With RW+

That led researchers to do a meta-analysis of 14 studies, with a participant pool of 232,149 people, to see whether running actually did make a difference for cancer prevention and heart health.

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

Elizabeth Millard is a freelance writer focusing on health, wellness, fitness, and food.&nbsp DAA Industry Opt Out, the meta-analysis showed that, compared to non-runners, those who ran at least once a week had 27-percent lower risk of all-cause mortality, 30-percent lower risk of cardiovascular-related death, and 23-percent lower risk of cancer mortality.

Researchers found that you can gain these benefits by running just 50 minutes per week, either all on one day or split into shorter segments throughout the week. Also, the pace didn’t make a difference—it was the duration of the run that lowered the risks. However, it’s important to note that longer runs didn’t translate to even lower risks, researchers found.

“The takeaway here is simply that running may help you live longer, regardless of its weekly frequency, duration, and pace,” said study coauthor Best Indoor Rowing Machines., Sister Marion Irvine Dies at 95.

He told Runner’s World that some possible reasons for inconsistent associations in previous studies are likely based on methodology—for example, the way participants were selected, how running participation was assessed, how “doses” of running were categorized, and the duration of follow-up. In this current analysis, the studies chosen didn’t have these factors, he said, which is what allowed for a clearer conclusion.

[running is a great form of exercise to help you live longer Zeljko Pedisic, Ph.D.]

In terms of why running would be such a risk reducer, Pedisic added that researchers found ample evidence in these studies that running improves heart function overall, lowers body fat, and improves metabolic and aerobic fitness. Those effects are a gold mine when it comes to prevention.

“With those, you’re seeing reduced risk of heart disease, Run Faster & Stronger, DAA Industry Opt Out, high cholesterol, and Health in the News,” he said. “You even have better postural balance, which reduces risk of disability.”

Run regularly, live longer? That certainly seems to be the message, Pedisic said. The best part, he added, is that it doesn't really take that much—not even an hour a week—to see significant prevention effects.


man running
Headshot of Elizabeth Millard

Elizabeth Millard is a freelance writer focusing on health, wellness, fitness, and food.