According to research published in 2011, people who had relatively low activity—they exercised 92 minutes a week or about 15 minutes of exercise a day—had a 3-year longer life expectancy compared to people who were inactive. Those in the low activity group also had a 14 percent lower risk of death from common causes like heart disease and cancer compared with completely sedentary people.

Sedentary means a lifestyle that includes light physical activity associated with typical activities of daily living. Moderately active consists of walking 1.5 to 3 miles daily at a pace of 3 to 4 miles per hour (or the equivalent). An active person walks more than 3 miles daily at the same pace, or equivalent exercise.

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