The negative health effects of a sedentary lifestyle and the impact of low physical activity accelerates biological aging in seniors by 8 years. Women who exercise for less than 40 minutes and are sedentary for over 10 hours every day have cells that are biologically “older” than women who are less sedentary and exercise more.

A sedentary lifestyle is one with irregular or no physical activity. The person who follows such a lifestyle is often referred to as a “couch potato” because he or she spends most of the time sitting, watching television, working on a computer, texting, playing video games, reading, and similar activities.

Unfortunately, such a lifestyle can contribute to numerous causes of death or negative health consequences, many of which might have been prevented.

Cells make up every organ in the body, and the rate at which the cells die varies in each individual. Other lifestyle factors like smoking, alcohol consumption, and stress can also greatly influence the progression of cellular aging.