I agree with this, but what I would like to see is the detailed cost/benefit analysis. The pushback I always get from my less athletic friends is: “sure… you will live longer, but you spend all that time exercising”
I would be interested in the half life of the effects of exercise. If I exercise today, how long does the benefit last? If I stop exercising do I lose all the benefits?
In my view, the time spent exercising improves the quality of all other time that you’re alive - you live better, not just longer. I like being strong and capable even when I’m not at the gym. I like being able to keep up with my kids if we go for a hike or a bike ride. Moreover, strength and balance developed through exercise reduce the risk of falls in old age.
The article says the “optimal” dose of vigorous exercise is 54 minutes a week. Do that for 30 years and you spent a total of 58.5 days exercising in order to reduce your risk of ACM by 36% - which I am sure will be a gain of much more than 58.5 days.
Not sure why you would stop doing something that’s good for you.
Loss of strength from not training occurs more rapidly the older you are, as you would expect. In my experience, you start getting weaker if you take more than a week off from lifting, and the weakness will accelerate after two or three months off. More detailed study here:
A Guide to Detraining: How to Mitigate Losses and Get Back to Full Strength (strongerbyscience.com)