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Apparently they golf a lot in Sweden. Now a new study by the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet finds that the death rate for golfers is 40% lower than for other people of the same sex, age and socioeconomic status, which corresponds to a 5 year increase in life expectancy.
The reason, according to Prof. Anders Ahlbom, is obvious. "A round of golf means being outside for four or five hours, walking at a fast pace for six to seven kilometres, something which is known to be good for the health," he says. Perhaps they don't have golf carts in Sweden. Or beer can holders. And what is this "fast pace" he's talking about?
The study does not rule out that other factors than the actual playing of golf, such as a generally healthy lifestyle, are also behind the lower death rate observed among golfers. However, they claim that the actual playing of golf in itself has a significant impact on health.
Here's an interesting point. The study also claims that golfers with a low handicap are more likely to achieve life-prolonging health benefits. Perhaps the worse golfer you are, the more frustrating the experience becomes, and the more likely the "exercise" is to be offset by frustration anxiety. Prof. Ahlbom chooses to point to the fact that low handicap golfers play more.
Anyway, before you golfers go congratulating yourselves on your supposed added longevity, ask yourself how many calories you burn getting in and out of that golf cart.
posted on June 4, 2008 7:57 AM ()
"Take my wife...please."
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