20/01/2026
Small, realistic changes to sleep, physical activity, and diet, made together, may lead to meaningful improvements in both how long people live and how long they stay healthy.
Findings from a new study published in eClinicalMedicine, part of The The Lancet Group, included ISEH’s Professor Mark Hamer, Chair of Sport and Exercise Medicine, and Dr John Mitchell, Research Fellow, as authors, alongside a dedicated international team of collaborators from leading institutions and universities. The study examined how small, combined improvements in all three lifestyle behaviours affect lifespan and healthspan. The research was led by Nick Koemel, PhD, RD of the University of Sydney.
Key points:
- Researchers followed 59,078 adults (average age 64 years) from the UK Biobank for about 8 years.
- Sleep and physical activity were measured using a wrist-worn device, while diet quality was scored based on intake of healthy foods and low sugary drink consumption.
- Health span was defined as years lived free from major diseases, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, lung disease, and dementia.
- People with the healthiest combination of sleep (7–8 hours per day), physical activity (over 42 minutes per day), and diet lived about 9 years longer and enjoyed about 9 more years in good health compared with those with the least healthy lifestyles.
- Even very small changes, such as 5 extra minutes of sleep, 2 more minutes of physical activity per day, and slightly better diet quality, were linked to 1 extra year of life.
- Making modest improvements to sleep, physical activity, and diet at the same time may meaningfully increase both lifespan and years lived in good health.
We are grateful to see coverage of these important findings so far in CNN, The Australian, The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Indian Express, Daily Mail, New Scientist, NBC News, PA Media, and The Sydney Morning Herald.
Read the article featured in CNN:
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/13/health/lifestyle-changes-longevity-wellness?Date=20260113&Profile=CNN&utm_content=1768347423&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin
More about the study:
https://iseh.co.uk/news/press-coverage/new-study-finds-small-realistic-changes-to-sleep-physical-activity-and-diet-made-together-may-help-us-live-longer-and-stay-healthy
