Light jogging the key to living longer

Jogging between one and two-and-a-half hours a week could be the answer to living longer according a new study.

Researchers from Copenhagen followed 1,098 healthy joggers and 3,950 non joggers to investigate how different running habits affected their long-term health.

The study, which looked at frequency of running, hours jogged and individual pace, found participants were more likely to live longer if they jogged two to three times a week or between one and 2.4 hours a week.

Maureen Talbot, Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: “This study shows that you don’t have to run marathons to keep your heart healthy. Light and moderate jogging was found to be more beneficial than being inactive or undertaking strenuous jogging, possibly adding years to your life.

“National guidelines recommend we do 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week. It may sound like a lot, but even brisk walking is good exercise and if you’re bit of a couch potato this is a good place to start.”