From two large prospective U.S. cohorts, 116,221 adults self-reported leisure-time physical activity—defined as exercise that is not done at work—through a validated questionnaire. The questionnaire was repeated up to 15 times over the course of 30 years.

The study found that those who worked out two to four times beyond the minimum physical activity recommendations had a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Those who worked out two to four times above the moderate physical activity recommendations—about 300 to 599 minutes each week—saw the most benefit. Participants had a 26% to 31% lower all-cause mortality while 28% to 38% had lower cardiovascular mortality. On top of that, 25% to 27% experienced lower non-cardiovascular mortality.

Additionally, adults who worked out two to four times more than the vigorous physical activity recommendations—about 150 to 299 minutes per week—were found to have 21% to 23% lower all-cause mortality, according to the study. They were also reported to have 27% to 33% lower cardiovascular mortality and 19% lower non-cardiovascular mortality.

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