Can “too much exercise” actually accelerate aging?

You’ve heard me say it time and time again…

Physical activity is fundamental to healthy aging.

But here’s the million-dollar question…

Can long-term physical activity really affect how long you live—or how fast your body ages?

Let’s see what a new study reveals…

The “sweet spot” for ultimate longevity

A fascinating new study out of Finland has some surprising answers.

Researchers followed 22,750 twins who were born before 1958. Physical activity was tracked over 15 years, with mortality rates analyzed after 30 years of follow-up.

It turns out that moderate physical activity had the most powerful impact on longevity—reducing mortality risk by just under 10 percent.

(Not bad for a brisk walk a few times a week, right?)

But here’s the twist: more exercise did not translate to more benefits. Meaning there just may be too much of a good thing—even when it comes to exercise.

In the study, twins were grouped by activity level:

• Sedentary
• Moderately active
• Active
• Highly active.

And get this…

Those who were highly active didn’t live any longer than the moderately active group. They did, however, age faster. Here’s what I mean…

Balance is the best approach

For a subset of twins, researchers also examined biological aging using epigenetic “clocks.” In other words, they looked at DNA markers that reflect the rate of aging.

The results were eye-opening, to say the least…

The highly active group was biologically 1.2 years older than the moderately active group and 1.6 years older than the active group.

This U-shaped curve shows that both too little and too much exercise can speed up aging. And here’s another bombshell…

Among twins where one followed World Health Organization (WHO) exercise guidelines and the other didn’t, there was NO significant difference in mortality or genetic cardiovascular disease risk.

This suggests that the amount of exercise you engage in may not override your DNA as much as we once thought.

Of course, this study focused solely on exercise, not other lifestyle factors. And I always encourage you to adopt as many healthy habits as possible for ultimate longevity.

But for now, the takeaway is clear: you don’t need to train like an Olympian to age well. In fact, you might be better off if you don’t.

Instead, stick to moderate, consistent movement—like walking, cycling, swimming, or strength training a few times per week. Your heart, joints, and DNA will thank you.

P.S. In your quest to “age younger” and feel better, I encourage you to check out my Ultimate Anti-Aging Protocol. Click here now to learn more about this online learning tool!

Source:

“Can exercising help you live longer? Twin study says it may be complicated.” Medical News Today, 03/21/2025. (medicalnewstoday.com/articles/can-exercising-help-you-live-longer-twin-study-complicated)