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 stroke mortality in women. Ten-year follow-up of the Nord-Trondelag health survey, 1984-1986.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Few studies have reported a protective effect of physical activity on stroke in women , particularly among elderly women . This study was conducted to examine the association between different levels of leisure-time physical activity and stroke mortality in a large prospect i ve study of middle-aged and elderly women . METHODS We conducted a 10-year mortality follow-up of women aged > /=50 years , free from stroke at baseline ( n=14 101 ) , who participated in the Nord-Trondelag Health Survey in Norway during 1984 - 1986 . Main outcome measures were relative risk of stroke mortality according to increasing levels of physical activity , with the least active group used as reference . RESULTS In groups aged 50 to 69 , 70 to 79 , and 80 to 101 years , the relative risk of dying decreased with increasing physical activity , after adjustment for potentially confounding factors . In groups aged 50 to 69 and 70 to 79 years , the most active women had an adjusted relative risk of 0 . 42 ( 95 % CI , 0.24 to 0.75 ) and 0.56 ( 95 % CI , 0.36 to 0.88 ) , respectively . In the group aged 80 to 101 years , there was a consistent negative association with physical activity ;  the adjusted relative risk for the most active was 0.57 ( 95 % CI , 0.30 to 1.09 ) . CONCLUSIONS Physical activity was associated with reduced risk of death from stroke in middle-aged and elderly women . This association persisted after we excluded individuals with prevalent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease at baseline and women who died during the first 2 years of follow-up . These observations strengthen the evidence that physical activity should be part of a primary prevention strategy against stroke in 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 .