Researchers who accept grants from the Coca-Cola company call physical inactivity the greatest public health problem of the 21st century.

Actually, physical inactivity ranks down at number 10 for risk factors for death in the United States

and number 11 for risk factors for disability.

And globally, in terms of years of healthy life lost, inactivity doesn't even break into the top

20.

As we've learned, diet is our greatest killer followed by smoking.

A media analysis found hundreds of news articles claiming that prolonged daily sitting

is as bad or even worse than smoking.

This is decidedly not the case.

Smoking is expected to cause a billion deaths this century.

Tobacco is responsible for up to more than ten times

greater mortality risk, comparing the heaviest smokers versus the heaviest sitters.

What role does physical activity play in longevity? In terms of combating the hallmarks of

aging, aerobic exercise can induce autophagy, lower

inflammation, decrease DNA damage, facilitate DNA repair.

A meta-analysis of cohort studies of middle-aged and older individuals with follow-ups

as long as 20 years found that exercising adults were more likely to age successfully

than sedentary individuals.

Population studies have found a correlation between regular aerobic exercise

and decreased risk of at least 35 different diseases,

but what have interventional trials proven in terms of cause and effect?

Randomized controlled trials of older adults have demonstrated that physical activity can improve muscle mass

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