{"id":17297,"date":"2025-08-11T10:00:26","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T14:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/?p=17297"},"modified":"2025-08-07T04:46:02","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T08:46:02","slug":"dan-buettner-longevity-expert-racquet-sports-like-pickleball-or-tennis-could-help-you-live-to-100","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/sports\/dan-buettner-longevity-expert-racquet-sports-like-pickleball-or-tennis-could-help-you-live-to-100-17297\/","title":{"rendered":"Dan Buettner, longevity expert: “Racquet sports like Pickleball or tennis could help you live to 100”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Staying active<\/strong> is one of the most effective ways to live longer and healthier<\/strong>. Regular movement through sports<\/strong><\/a> not only helps keep the body in shape, but also lowers the risk of chronic diseases, supports mental health, and improves overall quality of life \u2014 especially as we age.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s not about spending hours in the gym or pushing your limits daily. According to longevity expert Dan Buettner<\/strong><\/a>, the key lies in incorporating physical activity naturally into your routine \u2014 and there are a few sports in particular that stand out for their powerful benefits.<\/p>\n

Which sports can help you live to 100?<\/h2>\n

Dan Buettner, known for studying the world\u2019s longest-living populations, highlights racquet sports as the top activity linked to longevity<\/strong>. \u201cPeople who live the longest tend to play tennis, badminton \u2014 and I\u2019d say the best one of all is pickleball,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Pickleball has become especially popular among older adults for good reason. It\u2019s low-impact, easy to pick up, and \u2014 just as importantly \u2014 social. Buettner emphasizes that staying connected to others is just as vital for healthy aging as physical fitness<\/strong>. \u201cPlaying pickleball gives you the benefits of physical activity, and also the benefits of social connection,\u201d he notes.<\/p>\n

This combination of movement and community<\/strong> is what makes racquet sports so effective<\/strong>. Unlike solitary workouts, these games offer a chance to stay sharp, active, and socially engaged \u2014 all major factors in living longer.<\/p>\n

Which other sports support a longer life?<\/h2>\n

Second on Buettner\u2019s list is golf<\/strong> \u2014 a sport often underestimated in terms of physical demand. While it may seem relaxed, a single game usually involves walking between 7 and 10 kilometers, or roughly 15,000 steps. That kind of regular walking <\/a><\/strong>supports heart health, improves blood pressure, and builds stamina over time.<\/p>\n

Golf also stimulates the mind.<\/strong> Planning shots, concentrating over long distances, and managing terrain require mental focus and strategy \u2014 which helps keep the brain active and reduces cognitive decline. And because it\u2019s played outdoors, it brings the added mental health benefits of fresh air and nature.<\/p>\n

The third sport<\/strong> Buettner highlights is cycling<\/strong>, praised for its cardiovascular perks and gentle impact on joints. Ideal for people of all ages, biking is an easy way to stay active without placing strain on knees or hips.<\/p>\n

Supporting this, a 2017 study from the University of Glasgow<\/strong><\/a> found that people who cycled to work had a 41% lower risk of death from disease compared to those who didn\u2019t. The research also linked regular cycling to a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer \u2014 making it a smart, sustainable choice for anyone aiming to age well.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need to be an athlete to reap the rewards. The message from Buettner and research alike is clear: moving regularly, choosing sports that bring you joy, and connecting with others through activity are simple habits that can extend both your lifespan and your wellbeing.<\/strong><\/p>\n

So whether it\u2019s a casual game of pickleball, a walk across the green, or a relaxed bike ride around the neighborhood \u2014 these activities might just help you reach 100<\/strong>, feeling good along the way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Staying active is one of the most effective ways to live longer and healthier. Regular movement through sports not only helps keep the body in shape, but also lowers the risk of chronic diseases, supports mental health, and improves overall quality of life \u2014 especially as we age. But it\u2019s not about spending hours in … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":17303,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,47],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17297","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","category-training"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17297","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17297"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17297\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17304,"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17297\/revisions\/17304"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17303"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17297"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17297"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17297"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}