Exercise because inactivity is more dangerous than obesity

This article Lack of exercise deadlier than obesity: study reports on a study that finds that lack of exercise is more dangerous than obesity.

Lack of exercise is twice as likely to lead to an early grave than obesity, research has shown.

A brisk 20-minute walk each day is all it takes to avoid dying prematurely, the findings suggest.

Scientists looked at the effects of obesity and exercise on 334,161 European men and women whose progress was followed for 12 years.

They found that people who engaged in moderate levels of daily exercise - equivalent to taking an energetic 20-minute walk - were 16 per cent to 30 per cent less likely to die than those classified as inactive.

Although the impact of exercise was greatest among normal weight individuals, even those with high Body Mass Index levels saw a benefit.