A landmark study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine delivers exciting news for racket sports fans: tennis, squash, and badminton outperform jogging, football, and rugby in reducing all-cause mortality risk.
Researchers tracked 80,306 adults (average age 52) over nine years, adjusting for age, BMI, physical and mental health, plus lifestyle factors like alcohol and smoking. Among six sports analyzed, racket players showed a 47% lower risk of death from any cause and 56% lower for cardiovascular disease versus non-players.
Swimming also impressed, cutting all-cause mortality by 28% and cardiovascular risk by 41%. Fitness activities like Zumba® or aerobics reduced all-cause death risk by 27% and cardiovascular by 36%, while cycling lowered all-cause mortality by 15% but had no cardiovascular impact. Football, rugby, and jogging? No longevity benefits observed.
The takeaway? Exercise boosts health, but sport choice is crucial. Racket sports excel in extending life.
