Long-term physical inactivity linked to higher stress burden in midlife: Regular exercise in adulthood appears to help the body cope with stress even into midlife.

**Long-term physical inactivity linked to higher stress burden in midlife**

Prolonged insufficient physical activity in adulthood increases the body’s stress burden, according to a large longitudinal study based on the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966. By contrast, engaging in physical activity in line with recommended guidelines appears to protect the body from harmful stress.

According to the results, individuals who did not meet the health-enhancing physical activity recommendations during the follow-up period had a higher stress burden in midlife than those who were physically active in line with the recommendations. A decline in physical activity during adulthood was also associated with increased stress burden.

By contrast, individuals who increased their level of physical activity during adulthood did not differ in terms of stress burden from those who had remained physically active.

“The results suggest that the importance of physical activity is not limited to individual life stages; rather, regular exercise throughout adulthood may protect the body from the harmful effects of long-term stress,” says doctoral researcher Maija Korpisaari.

In the study, stress burden was assessed using both broader and narrower combinations of biological measures. The results were largely consistent regardless of the indicator used, strengthening the reliability of the findings.

Physical activity as part of stress management

The study provides new evidence that physical activity may be a key factor in preventing the long-term effects of stress.

“In terms of stress burden, both the amount of physical activity in youth and in adulthood are important. **Regular physical activity in adulthood appears to help the body cope with stress even into midlife**,” Korpisaari says.

The results of the study have been published in the scientific journal Psychoneuroendocrinology. Association of longitudinal changes in physical activity with allostatic load in midlife.

For those interested, here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306453025004482

Longitudinal, not experimental study. Ppl with lots of stress might have less time, over time, to exercise.