How Exercise Can Help Protect Against Severe Covid-19

The researchers also collected data on the known risk factors for severe Covid, including their age, smoking habits, weight and any history of cancer, diabetes, organ transplants, kidney problems and other serious underlying conditions.

Thereafter, the researchers crossed the numbers, with the results. People in the least active group, who almost never exercised, were hospitalized twice as fast as they were in the most active group due to Covid and consequently had about two-and-a-half more chances to die. Even compared to people in the somewhat active group, they were admitted to the hospital about 20 percent more frequently and were likely to die about 30 percent.

Of the other common risk factors for serious diseases, only advanced age and organ transplants have increased the likelihood of hospitalization and mortality from Covid more than being inactive, the scientists found.

“Being sedentary was the biggest risk factor” for serious illness, “unless someone was elderly or an organ recipient,” said Dr. Robert Sallis, a family physician at the Kaiser Permanente Fontana Medical Center, who led the new study. And while “you can do nothing about the other risks,” he says, “you can practice.”

Obviously, this study, because it was observational, does not prove that exercise reduces serious Covid risks, but only that people who exercise regularly are also people at low risk of becoming seriously ill. The study also did not investigate whether exercise in the first place reduces the risk of becoming infected with coronavirus.

But dr. Sallis points out that the associations in the study were strong. ‘I think, based on this data’, he can tell people that to walk fast for half an hour five times a week should help protect them from severe Covid-19. ‘

A walk – or five – can be especially beneficial for people waiting for their first vaccination, he adds. ‘I would never suggest that someone who exercises regularly should consider not getting the vaccine. But until they can get it, I think regular exercise is the most important thing to reduce their risk. And doing regular exercise will probably be protective against any new variants or the next new virus out there. ”