It’s hard to imagine people still don’t immediately connect the exercise-equals-good-health dots, but researchers are here to help.

Specifically, this time, it’s about avoiding “severe” COVID-19 cases.

A study from the British Journal of Sports Medicine took information from 50,000 Californians with a COVID diagnosis between January 2020 and October 2020.

We interrupt what will surely be fairly obvious results with this exercise tip: While seated at the dining table or at your computer, place your hands on the table’s edge and push.

Then, get up and go exercise.

OK, back to the research. The study found that – just like in regular living situations – people who are employ regular exercise are more likely to avoid health problems than those who do not.

The researchers said that “patients with COVID-19 who were consistently inactive had a greater risk of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19 than patients who were consistently meeting physical activity guidelines.”

About those “guidelines” mentioned: The least active group said they exercised for 10 minutes or less a week, and the most active group reported 150 minutes or more of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week.

How, though, do we finally reach those non-exercisers and inspire them to change? Make it the responsibility of someone to get the word out.

“We recommend efforts to promote physical activity to be prioritised by public health agencies and incorporated into routine medical care,” the study advised.

While many Americans kept up their workout routines during the pandemic, a good deal of people languished in lockdown and gained weight. 

Here’s hoping the gradual reopening also reopens minds and has people observing the study’s very common-sense conclusions.

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