1 . A new study involving nearly 50,000 people from four continents offers new insights into identifying the quantity of daily walking steps that will best improve adults’ health and longevity(长寿), and whether the ideal number of steps differs across people of different ages. The study represents an effort to develop an evidence-based public health message about the benefits of physical activity. The often-repeated 10,000-step-a-day saying grew out of a decades-old marketing activity for a Japanese pedometer(计步器), with no science to back it up.

Led by physical activity professor Amanda Paluch, an international group of scientists conducted an experiment among adults aged 18 and older. They grouped the nearly 50,000 participants into four comparative groups according to average steps per day. The lowest step group averaged 3,500 steps; the second, 5,800; the third, 7,800; and the fourth, 10,900 steps per day. Among the three higher active groups, there was a 40—53% lower risk of death, compared to the lowest step group.

More specifically, for adults 60 and older, the risk of early death leveled off at about 6,000—8,000 steps per day, meaning that more steps than that provided no additional benefit for longevity, while for adults younger than 60, about 8, 000—10,000 steps per day.

“So, what we saw was this continuing reduction in risk as the number of steps increases, until it levels off. Interestingly, the study found no definitive association with walking speed.” Paluch says.

The new study supports and expands findings from another study led by Paluch before, which found that walking at least 7,000 steps a day reduced middle-aged people’s risk of early death. “There’s a lot of evidence suggesting that moving even a little more is beneficial, particularly for those who are doing very little activity.” Paluch says. “More steps per day are better for your health.”

You already know the fact that regular exercise is important for controlling weight and     1     (avoid)a variety of health conditions. But it can also improve your academic     2    (perform). And. if you’re a distance learning student, you may miss out on some of the opportunities for physical activity afforded to more traditional students who routinely walk around campus. But it’s well worth the effort     3     (put) the schedule exercise into practice.

The study, which     4    (publish) in the Journal of Medicine & Science, describes physical activity as     5     vigorous movement that produces sweat and heavy breathing. Mike McKenzie found that students who studied over three hours per day were 3. 5 times     6    (likely) to be exercisers. Over a decade ago, McKenzie     7     (say) researchers discovered a link     8     exercise and focus in children.

More recently, another study by Johnson reveals that even short ”microbursts“ of physical activity throughout the day can have positive effects. Jennifer tells that sitting for long periods of time,     9    college students tend to do, can have a negative health effect. In addition, the study found that five-minute bouts of walking every hour had a positive impact on mood, tiredness, and hunger at the end of a day. This may be     10    (particular)beneficial to students who also work a full-time job and study in the evening and nighttime hours.

7 . Do you want to feel better, have more energy and even add years to you life? Just exercise:     1    Here are some ways daily exercise can lead to a happier and healthier you.

Exercise makes you energetic. Regular exercise can improve your muscle strength. Exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to your body and helps your cardiovascular(心血管的) system work more eficiently.    2    .

Exercise can help control your weight. When you take part in physical activity, you burn calories. Regular trips to the gym are great, but don’t worry if you can’t find a large amount of time to exercise every day.    3    

Exercise can be fun and social. It gives you a chance to relax and enjoy the outdoors.    4     So take a dance class, go for a swim or join a soccer teann. Find physical activity you enjoy in a fun and social setting, and just do it.

    5     A gym tour or a walk can help. Physical activity stimulates(刺激) various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier, more relaxed and less anxious. You may also feel better about yourself when you exercise regularly, which can improve your confidence.