Cohort2018 · Circulation · Li Y, Hu FB et al.
Li: five habits add 12–14 years of life at 50
Who, how long
78,865 women (Nurses' Health Study) and 44,354 men (Health Professionals), 34 and 27 years of follow-up
What they found
Not smoking, BMI 18.5–25, 30+ minutes of daily moderate activity, moderate alcohol, a good diet score: people keeping all five had 14 (women) and 12 (men) more years of life expectancy at 50 than those keeping none; –74% all-cause, –82% CV, –65% cancer mortality.
⚠ Caveat
Health professionals, self-report, observational; the “moderate alcohol” category is no longer considered protective given the J-curve debate. The magnitude, though, was replicated in other cohorts (UK Biobank).
Related in the knowledge base
Last reviewed: 6 September 2026
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