What actually affects the risk of early death more: how much we exercise or how much we drink? An extensive study from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) gives a clear message: fitness weighs more heavily.
The researchers followed almost 25,000 healthy Norwegian adults for over 16 years. Participants’ fitness was measured in relation to age and sex, and the results were then linked to mortality and alcohol consumption.
Worst condition – highest risk
The most striking finding was that the 20 percent with the worst fitness had a significantly higher risk of dying prematurely, regardless of whether they drank alcohol or not, writes Aftonbladet.
Meanwhile, people with normal or good fitness had a low mortality risk, both if they were sober and if they drank small to moderate amounts.
Professor Ulrik Wislöffone of the researchers behind the study, is clear about how the results should be understood:
“At the same time, population studies, including the HUNT study, show that for people who already drink small to moderate amounts of alcohol and stay in normal or good physical shape, the measurable mortality risk is low,” he tells VG.
