Scientists analyzed the exercise habits of more than 96,000 adults and uncovered a surprising longevity finding: How hard you move may matter more than how long you exercise.

In a 2026 study published in the European Heart Journal , researchers found that adults who performed more than 4% of their total physical activity vigorously had 29% to 61% lower risks of eight major chronic diseases and premature death than those who performed no vigorous activity, even after accounting for total activity volume.

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Why Exercise Intensity May Matter More Than Duration

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Researchers examined wrist-tracker data from 96,408 UK Biobank participants, whose average age was approximately 62.…