Lifestyle factors and survival

Additional years of life according to age associated with adoption or maintenance of a favorable physical-activity (≥4.5 metabolic equivalents, or METS) level and other characteristics between 1962 or 1966 and 1977, as estimated from mortality rates among 10,269 male Harvard alumni from 1977 through 1985. Prolongation of life was greater in younger men and with cessation of smoking, alone or particularly with exercise. The effect of each individual factor was adjusted for differences in other factors.