# Going From Zero to Just 5 Minutes of Exercise a Week Cuts Death Risk

*Even Low Levels of Physical Activity are Associated with Lower All-Cause Mortality: A Cohort Study of 594,000 US Adults.*

- **Evidence Level**: Strong
- **Publication Types**: Journal Article
- **Journal**: Annals of epidemiology
- **Sample Size**: 594,285 US adults
- **Authors**: Potter AW, Looney DP, Tharion WJ, Murphy CE, Friedl KE
- **Published**: 2026-06-17
- **Topics**: physical activity, mortality, exercise
- **DOI**: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2026.110150
- **Original Source**: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42309274/

## Summary

Many people think you need to hit big step counts to live longer. This study of nearly 600,000 US adults found the biggest payoff comes from simply going from doing nothing to doing a little. Even 5 minutes a week of moderate movement was linked to a 13% lower risk of dying. Over ten years, the most active people had a death risk of about 7%, versus 20% for the totally inactive.

## Practical Takeaway

This study suggests even a tiny bit of weekly movement may lower your risk of dying early.

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_Canonical: https://longevity-cities.com/en/research/going-from-zero-to-just-5-minutes-of-exercise-a-week-cuts-death-risk · Part of Longevity Cities · Updated 2026-06-17_