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 .
Physical activity and mortality in postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between physical activity and all case mortality  in postmenopausal women . DESIGN Prospect i ve cohort study with 7 years of follow-up through December 31 , 1992 . SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Subjects were 40417 postmenopausal Iowa women , aged 55 to 69 years at baseline in 1986 .  Physical activity was assessed by mailed question naire . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE  All-cause mortality ( n=2260 ) . RESULTS After adjustment for potential confounders and excluding women who reported having cancer or heart disease and those who died in the first 3 years of follow-up , women who reported regular physical activity were at significantly reduced risk of death during follow-up compared with women who did not ( relative risk [ RR ] , 0.77 ; 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] , 0.66 - 0.90 ) . Increasing frequency of moderate physical activity was associated with reduced risk of death during follow-up ( from rarely or never engaging in activity to activity at least 4 times per week , RRs , 1.0 [ referent ] , 0.76 , 0.70 , and 0.62 ; P value for trend<.001 ) . A similar pattern was seen for vigorous physical activity ( corresponding RRs , 1.0 , 0.89 , 0.74 , and 0.57 ; Pvalue for trend=.06 ) . Reduced risks of death with increased physical activity were evident for cardiovascular diseases ( n=729 ) and respiratory illnesses ( n=147 ) . Women who engaged only in moderate but not vigorous physical activity also benefited , with moderate activity as infrequently as once per week demonstrating a reduced mortality risk of 0.78 ( 95 % CI , 0.64 - 0.96 ) . CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate a grade d , inverse association between physical activity and all-cause mortality  in postmenopausal women . These findings strengthen the confidence that population recommendations to engage in regular physical activity are applicable to postmenopausal women
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 .