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 recommendations and decreased risk of mortality.
BACKGROUND Whether national physical activity recommendations are related to mortality benefit is incompletely understood . METHODS We prospect ively examined physical activity guidelines in relation to mortality  among 252,925 women and men aged 50 to 71 years in the National Institutes of Health-American Association of Retired Persons ( NIH-AARP ) Diet and Health Study .  Physical activity was assessed using 2 self-administered baseline question naires . RESULTS During 1,265,347 person-years of follow-up , 7,900 participants died . Compared with being inactive , achievement of activity levels that approximate the recommendations for moderate activity ( at least 30 minutes on most days of the week ) or vigorous exercise ( at least 20 minutes 3 times per week ) was associated with a 27 % ( relative risk [ RR ] , 0.73 ; 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] , 0.68 - 0.78 ) and 32 % ( RR , 0.68 ; 95 % CI , 0.64 - 0.73 ) decreased mortality risk , respectively . Physical activity reflective of meeting both recommendations was related to substantially decreased mortality risk overall ( RR , 0.50 ; 95 % CI , 0.46 - 0.54 ) and in subgroups , including smokers ( RR , 0.48 ; 95 % CI , 0.44 - 0.53 ) and nonsmokers ( RR , 0.54 ; 95 % CI , 0.45 - 0.64 ) , normal weight ( RR , 0.45 ; 95 % CI , 0.39 - 0.52 ) and overweight or obese individuals ( RR , 0.48 ; 95 % CI , 0.44 - 0.54 ) , and those with 2 h/d ( RR , 0.53 ; 95 % CI , 0.44 - 0.63 ) and more than 2 h/d of television or video watching ( RR , 0.50 ; 95 % CI , 0.45 - 0.55 ) . Engaging in physical activity at less than recommended levels was also related to reduced mortality risk ( RR , 0.81 ; 95 % CI , 0.76 - 0.86 ) . CONCLUSIONS Following physical activity guidelines is associated with lower risk of death . Mortality benefit may also be achieved by engaging in less than recommended activity levels
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 .