Middle-aged adults who keep physically fit are significantly less likely to develop a common heart disorder or suffer a stroke, research shows.
The study looked at 15,000 people, who were asked to complete a gruelling test on a treadmill to determine how fit they were. They were then followed for the next decade.
Participants were aged 55 on average and were divided into three groups based on their score in the test, in which they were asked to walk fast on the treadmill at progressively tougher inclines for three-minute intervals until they were too tired to carry on. Fitness was calculated according to how much energy the participants were able to use at their maximum effort.
The fittest adults were significantly less likely to be
