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While individual cases vary, overall trends show that a healthy lifestyle leads to better long-term outcomes. (THIP Media)
A viral social media post suggests that exercise and diet do not impact lifespan, citing examples of athletes and fitness inventors who died young while food industry pioneers lived long. After fact checking, we found that the claim is false.
The Instagram claim suggests that you can eat whatever you like because fitness experts and athletes have died young—like the inventor of the treadmill at 54, the inventor of gymnastics at 57, a world bodybuilding champion at 41, and footballer Maradona at 60. Meanwhile, the KFC founder lived to 94, the inventor of Nutella to 88, and the creator of Hennessy to 98. It also compares rabbits, which are active but live only about two years, to turtles, which don’t exercise but can live over 200 years. The message is to relax, eat, drink, and enjoy life.
Noindividual cases do not determine overall health trends. A few examples of people dying young or living long cannot disprove the well-established benefits of a healthy lifestyle. Lifespan is influenced by multiple factors, including genetics, environment, and medical access. The post cherry-picks data, ignoring thousands of studies showing that exercise and a balanced diet reduce the risk of chronic diseases and increase lifespan.
Noexercising generally increases lifespan. Regular physical activity lowers the risk of heart disease, diabetesand some cancers. Studies show that moderate exercise can add years to life expectancy. Athletes may face other risks, such as high-intensity training injuries or genetic conditions, which could contribute to early deaths in rare cases, but this does not mean exercise is harmful overall.
We spoke with Senior PhyysiotheraistAdest upma Lal for her expert take on exercise and lifespan. She says, “Absolutely not. Regular exercise is one of the best ways to improve overall health and longevity. It strengthens the heart, improves circulation, supports joint health, and reduces the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. While excessive or improper training can lead to injuries, balanced physical activity enhances both quality and length of life. The idea that exercise shortens lifespan is a misconception.”
Similarly, another post falsely claims that carrots can detox a smoker’s lungs. While carrots are nutritious, they cannot undo the harmful effects of smokingwhich remains a serious health risk and accelerates ageing.
Not necessarily. While some individuals with unhealthy diets may live long due to genetic factors, studies overwhelmingly show that a poor diet increases the risk of obesitycardiovascular disease, and early mortality. The post cites the inventors of Nutella, Hennessy, and KFC, but their long lifespans do not prove that unhealthy eating is beneficial. Other factors, like access to quality healthcare, play a role.
We asked Shruti K Bhardwaj, Chief Clinical Nutritionist at Zydus Hospital, Ahmedabadabout the idea that eating unhealthy foods leads to a longer life. She says, “Longevity isn’t about eating junk food and hoping for the best. People who live long, healthy lives usually have a balanced diet, stay active, and take care of their overall well-being. While some individuals may live long despite poor eating habits, that’s the exception, not the rule. Nutrition plays a huge role in preventing diseases and maintaining a good quality of life. Eating well doesn’t just add years to your life—it adds life to your years.”
Not really. The post gets several ages wrong. William Staubwho popularised home treadmillslived to 96, not 54. Friedrich Ludwig Jahna key figure in modern gymnasticsdied at 74, not 57. The bodybuilding claim is vague—there isn’t a single “world bodybuilding champion,” and most top bodybuilders have lived past 70. Shawna 2018 champion, died at 46 from a heart attackbut this isn’t proof that fitness shortens life.
Noit doesn’t. Diego Maradona did die at 60but he had a history of drug addiction, alcohol abuse, and overeating, which significantly affected his health. His lifestyle choices, not fitness, contributed to his early death.
Not exactly. Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of KFC, passed away at 90not 94. Michele Ferrero, who turned Nutella into a global brand in 1964, died at 89not 88. While the post slightly exaggerates their ages, it doesn’t significantly alter the overall message.
Nothis is false. While some fit people die young and some unhealthy people live long, this is not proof that exercise and diet are useless. Many studies show that regular physical activity and a balanced diet improve health and longevity. Genetics and lifestyle choices play a big role in lifespan.
Noturtles live long because of their slow metabolismnot because they avoid exercise. Their bodies have special traits like slow heart rates and unique cellular mechanisms that slow ageing. Rabbits, on the other hand, have short lifespans due to their fast metabolism. Lifespan depends on biology, not just activity levels. For humans, regular exercise is beneficial and does not shorten life. Comparing turtles to humans—or even rabbits—oversimplifies biology and is scientifically inaccurate.
The claim that exercise and diet do not impact lifespan is false. Scientific evidence strongly supports the role of diet and exercise in promoting health and longevity. While individual cases vary, overall trends show that a healthy lifestyle leads to better long-term outcomes.
This story was originally published by THIP Mediaand republished by News18 as part of the Shakti Collective.
