Why do Japanese people not like sports, but live the healthiest and longest life? 4 reasons to ponder

According to the latest report from the Chosun Times, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has released statistics on average life expectancy in 2021;

The average life expectancy of men is 81.47 years, a decrease of 0.09 years compared with 2020;

The average life expectancy of women is 87.57 years, which is 0.14 years less than that in 2020.

Although Japan's average life expectancy has declined for the first time in 10 years, it is undeniable that Japan is still one of the countries with the longest life expectancy in the world for a long time .

It is often said that "life is exercise", which means that exercise can help prolong life.

However, in a survey of the world's least sports-loving countries published in "The Lancet Global Health" in 2018, Japan ranked very high, with only 40% of people able to actively exercise .

Why do Japanese people not like sports, but live the healthiest and longest life? Doesn't exercise have a greater impact on life extension than imagined?

1. Harvard study: 20 minutes of exercise a day may reduce mortality

Recently, in a study on exercise and lifespan published in "Circulation", researchers surveyed more than 100,000 people in the form of questionnaires for more than 30 years, and analyzed the data and found that:

• Compared with those who do not exercise, people who exercise moderately every week (300-600 minutes a week) can reduce the risk of death by 21-23%;
• Those who exercise vigorously every week (150-300 minutes a week) reduce the risk of death by 26-31%;
• Long-term high-intensity physical activity (>300 minutes/week) or moderate-intensity physical activity (>600 minutes/week) did not further reduce mortality.

This study is basically in line with the recommendations in the guidelines issued by the US Department of Health and Human Services, that is, there is solid evidence to prove its association between regular physical activity and a reduction in the risk of premature death .

2. Why do Japanese people live a long life without loving sports?

The Japanese don't like sports, but they still live a long life. What is their longevity secret?

1. Unique eating habits

"European Journal of Nutrition" investigated the dietary data of 92,000 Japanese people and found that Japan has a "set" of distinctive eating habits:

Eat "less" : the daily habit is 80% full, and the calorie intake will be controlled;

Eat "fresh" : the dishes are mainly made with less oil and less salt, and try to keep the original taste as much as possible;

Eat "white" : Compared with red meat such as pork, beef and sheep, the Japanese prefer to eat deep-sea fish;

Love soy products : The daily consumption of soybeans ranks first in the world, not only tofu, but the Japanese prefer fermented soybean foods, such as miso and natto.

2. The obesity rate is very low

According to the report of the World Health Organization, Japan is one of the countries with the lowest obesity rate in the world, with the obesity rate below 5% .

Although the Japanese do not like sports, as early as 2008, the Japanese government advocated the "National Waist Slimming Plan" and promulgated laws and regulations to strictly check the waist circumference of middle-aged and elderly people. The waist circumference of men must be controlled within 85 cm, and the waist circumference of women must be controlled within 90 cm. within centimeters.

3. Travel mostly by walking or cycling

Japanese people like to travel by walking and cycling. In terms of the number of bicycles per 100 people, Japan even surpasses China.

In Japan, taking a taxi is a very extravagant behavior. The public generally believes that walking and cycling are both cost-effective and convenient, even though it may take more time.

4. Good medical environment

In Japan, anyone who holds the "National Health Handbook" can enjoy medical insurance. Almost all items only need to pay 30% of their own expenses, and the rest is borne by the state. This also facilitates Japanese medical treatment and makes Japanese elderly live longer and healthier.

3. The biggest "enemy" of longevity: chronic diseases

There are many factors that affect longevity, the biggest threat of which is chronic disease.

In 2019, a study published in The Lancet analyzed the top ten causes of death among Chinese residents in the past 30 years. Stroke was the top cause of death, followed by heart disease and respiratory cancer.

In China, deaths caused by chronic diseases accounted for 88.5% of all deaths . In other words, if you want to live longer, you must overcome chronic diseases as much as possible.

Do you have enough disease resistance? If the body meets these indicators, then congratulations, the ability to prevent diseases is very high.

1. The circumference does not exceed the standard, and the disease is less likely to come to you

Waist circumference standard: men <85 cm, women <80 cm

Neck circumference standard: men <38 cm, women <35 cm

The thicker the waist and neck circumference, it may imply that the body's blood sugar and blood lipids are significantly exceeded , which means that the risk of chronic diseases also increases.

2. The three major indicators are normal, and chronic diseases are far away

Blood pressure standard: systolic blood pressure < 120 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure < 80 mm Hg

Blood sugar standard: fasting blood sugar <6.1 mmol/L, and 2-hour postprandial blood sugar <7.8 mmol/L

Low-density lipoprotein standard: the normal value is <3.4 mmol/L

Exceeding the standard is related to the three basic diseases of hypertension, hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia.

3. Fast walking speed and good cardiopulmonary function

Gait speed > 0.8 m/s

People who walk fast have good heart and lung function, and healthy muscles and bones.

4. The stronger the grip, the healthier the heart

Grip strength BMI > 50, insufficient grip strength, represents the decline of vascular function in the upper body, insufficient blood vessel elasticity, and the risk of high blood pressure.

Have you met these indicators?

In fact, it is not just Japan. With the improvement of people's health awareness, people all over the world are living longer and longer. Some studies have found that in the future, human life is likely to be extended to 150 years old, of course, the premise is that you have a healthy enough body.

References:

[1] "Harvard 30 Years Research: Exercise 20 minutes a day, reduce mortality by a quarter". Bio Valley. 2022-08-01

[2] "How long can a person live to the longest?" How to live longer? About longevity, it's all explained in one article! ". Tencent Medical Code. 2022-02-06

[3] "8 Hard Indicators of Longevity! If all meet the standards, it may be a "candidate" for longevity". Health Times. 2022-07-18

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