2020_11_10_MED_premio_proyecto_sun

Getting together with friends for more than one hour a day, performing a physical activity equivalent to walking daily for at least average hour or running approximately 2 hours a week, and taking a 30-minute nap reduce the risk of premature mortality. This is what researchers from the project "University of Navarra Follow-Up (SUN)The researchers of the "Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra" (SUN), awarded with the award to the research best valued in the XVI congress World Public Health 2020.

The work, chosen from among more than 4,000 programs of study, jointly analyzes ten healthy lifestyle factors and concludes that, at the same age, complying with at least seven of them reduces the risk of premature mortality by 60%. In addition to these requirements, the research highlights "never smoking; following a Mediterranean per diem expenses ; having a body mass index less than or equal to 22 kg/m²; having a leave exhibition to television, i.e. less than 2 h/day;; and working at least 40 h/week".

It also includes moderate alcohol consumption (women 5 g/day maximum and men 10 g/day maximum, which would be equivalent to half a small glass of wine for women and one for men; and avoiding binge drinking -never more than 5 drinks in a row. 

Professor Maira Bes-Rastrollo defended the work, based on the publication "Lifestyle-Related Factors and Total Mortality in a Mediterranean Prospective Cohort". In it, researchers from the University of Navarra and the CIBER-OBN of high school de Salud Carlos III, led by Dr. Miguel A. Martínez-González, analyzed these ten factors in 22,094 volunteers.

"An interesting aspect of the study is that sample that acts as everyday and affordable as those included in this scale substantially reduce the risk of premature death, regardless of other risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, or high cholesterol, among others," says Maira Bes-Rastrollo, from the department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health of the School of Medicine of the University of Navarra.

"This scale of factors can be a very useful tool internship to promote a healthy lifestyle and reduce premature deaths in the entire population. The results reflect the importance of promoting healthy lifestyles as pillars of medical care and health promotion," concludes Liz Ruiz-Estigarribia, first author of the publication.

Finally, Maira Bes points out that this award recognizes the work of the entire project SUN team, and pays tribute to the continued perseverance of its stalwart volunteers, with more than twenty years of participation for those who first joined the study. They are the ones who help us to demonstrate that comprehensive health promotion must be a priority.

Ten requirements to prevent premature mortality

1. Never smoke.

2. Perform moderate or intense physical activity, equivalent to walking daily for at least average hour, or jogging approximately 2 h/week.

3. Follow a Mediterranean per diem expenses .

4. Have a healthy body mass index, i.e. less than or equal to 22 kg/m².

5. Have a moderate alcohol consumption (women 5 g/day maximum and men 10 g/day maximum, which would be equivalent to half a small glass (100 ml.) of wine for women and one for men).

6. Have a leave exhibition to television, i.e., watch less than 2 hours/day.

7. Avoid binge drinking, i.e., never more than 5 drinks in a row.

8. Take a nap of 30 mins/day at the most.

9. Going out or meeting friends for more than 1 hour/day.

10. Work at least 40 hours/week.