Exercise could accelerate the ageing process.
Exercising isn't necessarily healthy
A new study in Finland challenges established scientific knowledge and claims that physical activity isn't as beneficial as typically thought.
Experts led by Anna Kankaanpaa at the University of Jyvaskyla analysed the records of over 11,000 same-sex twins who were studied from 1975 to 2020.
They found that the least physically active groups were more likely to die over the study period but once factors such as smoking and heavy drinking were incorporated - they noticed only a very weak link between exercise levels and longevity.
This means that people who are active may not live longer because they exercise, but instead because they are fundamentally healthier.
Analysis of blood samples also revealed that the most and least active groups showed signs of more biological ageing than those in between - striking evidence that exercise may not be effective.