Running Just Once A Week May Significantly Lower Risk Of Death

The new analysis looked at 14 studies that had tracked the health of 232,149 people between the ages of 5.5-35 years of age to investigate the association between running/jogging and the risk of death from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. 

According to the findings published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine any amount of running at any pace appeared to lower the risk of death from all causes for both men and women by 27%; running as also associated with a 30% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease, and a 23% lower risk of death from cancer. 

The lowest amount of running in this study was once a week for less than 50 minutes at a speed less than 6 mph, even this was found to significantly lower the risk of death from all causes. It was noted that it remains unclear as to how much running needs to be done in order to reduce mortality risk, and no evidence was found to suggest increasing frequency, duration, or pace brought about any greater mortality benefits. 

Although this work had limitations and was an observational study, not able to establish cause and effect, the researchers still concluded that any amount of running is better than none based on their findings, "Increased rates of participation in running, regardless of its dose, would probably lead to substantial improvements in population health and longevity."