In medicine, longevity isn\u2019t just about staying alive for as long as possible. The goal is to maximize the number of years we live in good health and disease-free into older age \u2014 aka, our \u201chealthspan.\u201d<\/p>\n
While society is obsessed with quick fixes like biohacking and peptides<\/a>, increasing our healthspan often boils down to lifestyle choices. These include diet, sleep and physical activity.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t need to spend hours in the gym every week to reap the benefits of exercise \u2014\u00a0which include a lower risk of heart disease, improved mobility and weight management, among others.<\/p>\n Dr. Jordan Metzl, a sports medicine physician at the Hospital for Special Surgery, previously spoke to TODAY.com about longevity-boosting lifestyle habits<\/a> to incorporate into your routine. <\/p>\n Here\u2019s how many days a week you should move your body in order to increase your healthspan:<\/p>\n Longevity Tip of The Day: Move Your Body Every Day, 7 Days a Week, to Boost Longevity<\/p>\n Moving your body every day is an incredibly important habit to boost longevity, Metzl tells TODAY.com.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the number one thing. Activity, activity, activity … daily,\u201d says Metzl, who authored \u201cPush: Unlock the Science of Fitness Motivation to Embrace Health and Longevity.\u201d <\/p>\n Movement can be anything that gets you to exert more effort or move your body around more than usual. Whether it\u2019s walking, dancing, taking the stairs or cleaning your home. <\/p>\n \u201cWe have increasing evidence that even just two minutes a day of vigorous physical activity, independent of exercise, is valuable for extending longevity,\u201d Metzl says. <\/p>\n Simply dialing up the intensity during everyday activities can have an impact. \u201cAs long as it gets you huffing and puffing,\u201d Metzl adds. This is referred to as non-exercise activity thermogenesis, or NEAT.<\/p>\n Why It Matters<\/p>\n