Healthy living 'can add 14 years'

　
　１月１０日付けのＢＢＣニュースが興味深い調査内容を伝えている。

　たばこを吸わず、運動し、酒を適度に飲み、野菜と果物を毎日食べるという４つの生活習慣を守ると、全く守らない場合に比べて最大で１４年間長生きできる勘定になると、英ケンブリッジ大などの研究チームが１０日までに米医学誌プロス・メディシンに発表した。英国で約２万人を調査した結果で、健康に良い要因の相乗効果が明らかになったのは珍しいという。

　ここでいう適度な酒とは一週間に飲む量がワインに換算してグラス半分～７杯とかなり少ない。（小生なら一日か二日の分量だ）また野菜とフルーツは多めで、一日５皿分と書かれている。またデスクワーカーの場合には３０分の運動を勧めている。この４つが全く当てはまらない６０歳のリスクは４つとも当てはまる７４歳のリスクに相当するという。（グラフをみる限りその差は１０歳程度に見えるのだが。。。）

Taking exercise, not drinking too much alcohol, eating enough fruit and vegetables and not smoking can add up to 14 years to your life, a study says.
Research involving 20,000 people over a decade found those who failed on all criteria were four times more likely to have died than those who succeeded.

The findings held true regardless of how overweight or poor they were.

The Public Library of Science Medicine study suggests many could increase their lifespan through simple changes.

The research was carried out by the University of Cambridge and the Medical Research Council in the English county of Norfolk between 1993 and 2006.

Participants were aged between 45 and 79. They were socially mixed although overwhelmingly white, and as far as they were aware at the time, did not have cancer or any heart problems.

<Taking off the years >

A point was awarded for each of the following: not currently smoking, consuming between one and 14 units of alcohol per week (the equivalent of between half a glass and seven glasses of wine), eating five servings of fruit and vegetables each day and not being inactive.

This last category was defined as either having a sedentary occupation and taking half an hour of exercise a day, or simply having a non-sedentary job like a nurse or plumber.

Not only did the team find that those with four points were significantly less likely to have died over the period than those with none, they also found that a 60-year-old person with a score of zero had the same risk of dying as a 74-year-old with the full four points.

"We've know that individually, measures such as not smoking and exercising can have an impact upon longevity, but this is the first time we have looked at them altogether," said Professor Kay-Tee Khaw, who led the research.

"And we also found that social class and BMI - body mass index - really did not have a role to play.

"It means a large proportion of the population really could feel health benefits through moderate changes."

It was in the reduction of deaths attributed to cardiovascular disease where the findings were most pronounced, with those scoring zero five times more likely to succumb than those scoring four.

But there was also a relationship between score and cancer deaths.

While the main analysis excluded people with known disease, the researchers found that those with serious conditions fared better the higher they scored than those who scored lower.

Health campaigners welcomed the study.

"This is good news and shows that by living a healthy life, people can reduce their risk of dying from heart and circulatory disease," said Judy O'Sullivan of the British Heart Foundation.

"By not smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation, taking regular physical activity and eating a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, people can improve their chances of living longer."

A Department of Health spokesperson said: "Everyone has responsibility for their own health, which was highlighted last year when we kickstarted the Small Change, Big Difference initiative to show people that there are simple changes they can make in their lives that will have a direct impact on their health."

　４つの生活習慣のなかで野菜・果物の摂取だけは独身者（特に男性）では一番面倒だが、あとは独身でも何とかなる。まぁ小生にとっての朗報は社会的地位やＢＭＩ値では関連付けができなかったという点か。ただ小生にとって最も困難な習慣は適度の酒だろうなぁ。そういえば思い出したが、小生の両親は大病もなく健在なのだが、毎朝果物とヨーグルトの入った野菜サラダを食べている。オヤジはいまだにタバコを吸っているが。。。