A WEEKLY run slashes the risk of early death by 27 per cent, research shows.
Analysis of more than 230,000 people also found those who regularly jog saw their risk of dying of heart disease fall by 30 per cent and from cancer by 23 per cent.
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Lead researcher Professor Zeljko Pedisic, of Victoria University in Melbourne, said getting more people running could help ease the strain on the NHS.
He said running is associated with a host of health benefits, including reduced risk of obesity, high-blood pressure and raised cholesterol.
It also protects against cardiovascular disease and cancer while helping to improve balance and heart function.
He said: “Significant reductions in mortality risk can be expected for any dose of running, even just once a week.
“The take-home message is running is good for you.
“Even those running small amounts, such as once a week, can reap the health benefits.”
But he warned there was no clear evidence showing that the more people run, the healthier they are.
