Description
A study of 300,000 Swedish golfers found they died at a 40% lower rate than non-golfers of the same age, sex and income. The researchers estimated that as about five extra years of life. But is it the golf, or are golfers just wealthier to begin with?
In this video we look at what the research actually says: the Swedish mortality study, a US study of adults over 65, a Finnish experiment comparing golf to walking, and an international expert consensus on golf and health. We also cover the social side of the game, the honest downsides, and how to play for a longer life.
⏱️ Chapters
0:00 Do golfers live longer?
0:20 Golf habit or just wealth?
0:30 The Swedish study: 300,000 golfers
1:00 Once a month: the US study of adults over 65
1:50 Golf vs walking: the Finnish experiment
2:30 Steps, miles and calories in a round
2:50 Heart health, strength and balance
3:20 The part nobody counts: friendship
3:50 Is it just money?
4:20 The risks
4:30 How to play for a longer life
⚠️ These studies show associations, not proof that golf causes a longer life. This video is for general information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before starting a new exercise routine.
📚 Sources
• Karolinska Institutet, golf and mortality (2008): https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080530095413.htm
• American Heart Association, golf and longevity in older adults (2020): https://heart.org/en/news/2020/02/13/want-to-live-longer-get-into-the-swing-of-golfing
• University of Eastern Finland, golf vs walking vs Nordic walking (2023): https://www.uef.fi/en/article/golf-walking-and-nordic-walking-show-health-benefits-for-older-people
• BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine study: https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/node/141219
• Dementia-friendly golf research: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8671651/
• Golf and low back pain: https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/sports-and-spine-injuries/golf-and-low-back-pain
Do you know someone who's still golfing in their 80s or 90s? Tell us about them in the comments.
#golf #longevity #healthyaging