Overall , the current literature supports clearly the dose-response relationship between physical activity and the seven chronic conditions identified .
Moreover , higher levels of physical activity reduce the risk for premature all-cause mortality .
The current Canadian guidelines appear to be appropriate to reduce the risk for the seven chronic conditions identified above and all-cause mortality
This systematic review examines critically the scientific basis for Canada 's Physical Activity Guide for Healthy Active Living for adults .
Particular reference is given to the dose-response relationship between physical activity and premature all-cause mortality and seven chronic diseases ( cardiovascular disease , stroke , hypertension , colon cancer , breast cancer , type 2 diabetes ( diabetes mellitus ) and osteoporosis ) .
The strength of the relationship between physical activity and specific health outcomes is evaluated critically .
Changes in physical activity, mortality, and incidence of coronary heart disease in older men
BACKGROUND We studied the relations between physical activity and changes in physical activity , all-cause mortality , and incidence of major coronary-heart-disease events in older men . METHODS In 1978 - 80 ( Q1 ) , 7735 men aged 40 - 59 were selected from general practice s in 24 British towns , and enrolled in a prospect i ve study of cardiovascular disease , which included physical activity data . In 1992 ( Q92 ) , 12 - 14 years later , 5934 of the men ( 91 % of available survivors , mean age 63 years ) gave further information on physical activity and were then followed up for a further 4 years . The main endpoints were all-cause mortality during 4 years of follow-up from Q92 , and major fatal and non-fatal coronary-heart-disease events during 3 years of follow-up from Q92 . FINDINGS Among 4311 men with no history of coronary heart disease , stroke , or " other heart trouble " by Q92 and who did not report " poor health " , there were 219 deaths . In the inactive/occasionally active , light , moderate , and moderately vigorous/vigorous activity groups there were 101 ( 18.5/1000 person-years ) 48 ( 11.4 ) , 23 ( 7.3 ) , and 47 ( 9.1 ) deaths , respectively ( adjusted risk ratios 1.00 , 0.61 [ 95 % CI 0.48 - 0.86 ] , 0.50 [ 0.31 - 0.79 ] , 0.65 [ 0.45 - 0.94 ] ) . Men who were sedentary at Q1 and who began at least light activity by Q92 had significantly lower all-cause mortality than those who remained sedentary , even after adjustment for potential confounders ( risk ratio=0.55 [ 0.36 - 0.84 ] ) . Physical activity improved both cardiovascular mortality ( 0.66 [ 0.35 - 1.23 ] ) and non-cardiovascular mortality ( 0.48 [ 0.27 - 0.85 ] ) . The relation between  physical activity  at Q92 , changes in physical activity , and mortality were similar for men with pre-existing cardiovascular disease . INTERPRETATION Maintaining or taking up light or moderate physical activity reduces mortality and heart attacks in older men with and without diagnosed cardiovascular disease . Our results support public-health recommendations for older sedentary people to increase physical activity , and for active middle-aged people to continue their activity into old age
Overall , the current literature supports clearly the dose-response relationship between physical activity and the seven chronic conditions identified .
Moreover , higher levels of physical activity reduce the risk for premature all-cause mortality .
The current Canadian guidelines appear to be appropriate to reduce the risk for the seven chronic conditions identified above and all-cause mortality
This systematic review examines critically the scientific basis for Canada 's Physical Activity Guide for Healthy Active Living for adults .
Particular reference is given to the dose-response relationship between physical activity and premature all-cause mortality and seven chronic diseases ( cardiovascular disease , stroke , hypertension , colon cancer , breast cancer , type 2 diabetes ( diabetes mellitus ) and osteoporosis ) .
The strength of the relationship between physical activity and specific health outcomes is evaluated critically .