Researcher Subjectively perceived inertia can reduce life expectancy

We feel it when we feel lazy and not fit?
At the present time, many people are crazy about sports and fitness. This fitness craze makes some people feel they are simply not active enough. Researchers now found that the feeling of being less fit than other people already leads to a shortened life expectancy.

Researchers at Stanford University found in their study that reducing the life span is associated with the feeling of being less fit and active than others. The experts published the results of their study in the journal "Health Psychology".

If people feel that they are less active than the people around them, this will lead to decreased life expectancy over the rest of their lives. (Image: Kzenon / fotolia.com)

Older study examined employees in hotels
Previous studies have already concluded that the assessment of one's own health has physiological consequences. For one of these studies, the doctors then studied employees in the hotel industry. These women moved a lot, but had the attitude that their work was not good training.

Viewing work as training led to improvements in blood pressure and body fat
Some hotel staff attended a presentation that showed them that their work involves lifting and walking, both of which are good exercises for activity and health. If the women considered their work a good workout, it would improve their blood pressure and body fat, the authors explain.

Data from two large surveys were evaluated
For their current study, researchers analyzed data from two major national health surveys - the National Health Interview Survey and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The physicians also wanted to find out how the participants judged themselves in terms of their fitness compared to other people their age.

When people think they are not fit, they die sooner
If individuals thought they were less active than other people their age, it would increase their likelihood of dying earlier, the researchers say. This effect was independent of the state of health, the body mass index (BMI) and other factors, the authors explain further. The observed effect could also be observed, although some of the subjects resembled each other in all respects.

Affected persons die 71 percent earlier
The experts analyzed three data sets of the survey and all three showed that when people considered themselves less fit than their acquaintances, those individuals had a 71 percent greater chance of dying earlier during the 21-year follow-up. I was very surprised by the size of this effect, says author Octavia Zahrt of Stanford University.

Is a placebo effect to blame for the reduced life expectancy?
The researchers suspect that there are a few reasons for the detectable effect. For example, the so-called placebo effect could play a role. What underpins this idea is the effect of our way of thinking, explain the experts. For example, if we believe that we are being given a painkiller, placebos will actually activate endogenous opiates in the brain.

Does demotivation lead to less activity?
Social comparisons can certainly demotivate. If people think they are not active enough, that perception may be enough to discourage people, so they stop exercising. They would become less and less active over time, explains author Zahrt. Lack of exercise and activity could be responsible for some of the negative health outcomes. (As)