Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. yoguma@hsph.harvard.edu
A computer assisted literature search was performed (Medline, 1966-2000) to examine the association of physical activity with all cause mortality in women. It was concluded that, by adhering to current guidelines for physical activity and expending about 4200 kJ of energy a week, women can postpone mortality. The magnitude of benefit experienced by women is similar to that seen in men.