November 20, 2012

expert reaction to physical weakness and premature death

A cohort study of one million participants, published in the BMJ, found low muscle strength in adolescence was strongly associated with a greater risk of early death from several major causes. A before the headlines analysis was also sent out which can be viewed here.  

Prof Stephen J.W. Evans, Professor of Pharmacoepidemiology, Dept of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said:

“There are very many health-related factors that may be associated with grip strength but it appears that many of them have not been controlled for in this study. There is good evidence that physical activity is beneficial in terms of cardiovascular disease and some evidence that depression is helped by exercise, but the idea that exercise benefits those with low muscular strength has not been shown in this or any study of which I am aware. It would require an enormous randomised trial. Sadly the trials of an intervention to increase exercise have not shown notable benefits, though that does not discourage me and many others from exercising.”

‘Muscular strength in male adolescents and premature death: cohort study of one million participants’ by Francisco B Ortega et al, published in the BMJ on Tuesday 20th November 2012.