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Walking for an extra ten minutes each day could add years to your life, researchers have found.
A study of 5,000 middle-aged and elderly Americans found the risk of dying from any cause dropped as exercise levels increased.
Just 10 more minutes of moderate activity per day — such as a brisk walk — slashed deaths in 40 to 85-year-olds by seven per cent annually.
The researchers estimate the small lifestyle change could save 100,000 lives in the US every year.
Upping exercise by 20 minutes or 30 minutes daily would see fatalities plummet 13 and 17 per cent, respectively, according to the National Cancer Institute study.
Britons are advised to complete 150 minutes of moderate physical exercise every week, such as a bike ride.
Lead author Dr Pedro Saint-Maurice said the findings support encouraging older adults to increase their activity.
Researchers at the National Cancer Institute estimated increasing physical activity by 10 minutes per day would prevent 111,174 deaths in the US annually (6.9 per cent). A 20-minute increase would see the country's fatality toll drop by 209,459 per year (13 per cent), while a 30-minute rise would trigger a 272,297 fall (16.9 per cent)
