The secret is no secret really – and I think most of us know that!

It has long been known that when people engage in even a moderate amount of exercise it can prevent heart disease and prolong life.

The Framingham Heart study has followed 5,200 people living in Framingham, Massachusetts for the past 46 years. New data from the study involving people over 50 indicates that more physical activity increase life span more and decreases risk of heart disease more.

Specifically the study found that those who at 50 years old started engaging in moderate physical activity lived 1.3 years longer and were free of heart disease 1.1 more years. And people who engaged in high levels of physical activity lived 3.5 years longer and were free of heart disease 3.2 more years.

And recently some researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) led by Edward McAuley have shown that senior citizens who started exercising also gained many psychological benefits!

This study was done with a sample of 174 adults over 65 years old, lasted 6 months and involved walking and stretching/toning exercises.

It found that older adults who exercise have improved levels of affect, physical self-esteem, self-efficacy.

Do you exercise regularly? Why or why not? Do studies like these influence your behavior? If you have kids do you feel like they are a good motivator to exercise so you will live longer to be there for them? Or do you find that with kids you no longer have time to exercise?