Fitness Friday

Elite Athletes Live Longer Than Their Siblings

According to a recent study from the University of Jyvaskyla found that former elite athletes survive longer than their brothers do, due to their self-rated health and health-related habits.

Elite athletes live very strict, fitness filled lives so that they can continue to perform at the level that their specific sport demands.They continually train for the sport that they need to and adhere to strict diets that supply them with sport-specific nutrition. Many of these athletes tend to adhere to this lifestyle even after retiring from their sports, as it has become a ritual that they have become accustomed to. A recent study conducted by the University of Jyvaskyla and University of Helsinki looked at the long-term effects of athletes lifestyles compared to their siblings. 

The researchers looked at 900 former elite athletes and their brothers and found that, across all age groups, former elite athletes survived 2-3 years longer than their siblings. The study also found that elite endurance athletes lived longer than their power athlete counterparts, and that endurance athlete siblings lived longer than power athletes siblings. The elite athletes were more physically active and smoked less than their siblings, however, there were no significant differences in mobility or psychophysical abilities but the athletes tended to have a better overall mood. The results of the study support previous research that genetic and family childhood factors play a role in determining high aerobic fitness or reduced mortality.