Muscular men live longer
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Athletic physique can mean more to men than just a beautiful appearance.
A team of researchers from Sweden found that muscular guys not only enjoy the increased attention of women, but also live longer than less athletic men.
The results of research scientists are described in the journal "British Medical Journal".
Experts analyzed the data of a million men liable for military service, who passed pre-conscription medical examinations 24 years ago - at the age of 16-19. Doctors checked their physical training, forcing them to do physical exercises, pushing themselves off the floor and crouching, testing for endurance. All the data were recorded.
Over the years, some of these men died, some gained extra pounds. Experts found an interesting fact - those who were no longer alive, at the young age did not differ in athletic build and were weak. They also found that unsporting people are most susceptible to mental disorders and frequent stress.
However, the results obtained do not say that the build-up of muscle mass can provide many years of life. Even if the men who were muscular and fit in their youth, gain weight, they will still live longer.
For the entire study period, 26,145 men died. Scientists call the leading causes of death casual injuries, then suicide, cancer, heart disease and stroke. One third of the deaths were due to other causes.
Those guys, whose muscular strength at the beginning of the study was above average, risked losing their lives prematurely, for one reason or another, by 20-35% less. Weak people were 65% more likely to go mad or get depressed, and the suicide rate in this case was 20-30%.
The causes of early withdrawal from life often become hypertension and obesity. If you do not take into account the influence of these factors and heredity, then muscle weakness is one of the main causes of premature death. Even the large size of the abdomen does not depress men so much as the absence of muscles.
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