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A new study claims that being physically fit at the age of 30, 40, and 50 not only expands lifespan, it also helps people age healthily and ward off chronic illnesses.

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center and The Cooper Institute have studied how fitness could affect the burden of chronic diseases towards the later years of life- a concept known as morbidity compression.

"We've determined that being fit is not just delaying the inevitable, but it is actually lowering the onset of chronic disease in the final years of life," said Dr. Jarett Berry, assistant professor of internal medicine and senior author of the study available online in the Archives of Internal Medicine, according to Medical Xpress.

For the research, the scientists analyzed the medical data of 18,670 participants in the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study, which have been maintained for than 40 years.

The data was checked to see the patients' Medicare claims filed between age 70 and 85. The analyses showed that with a patient's 20 percent increase in the level of fitness during midlife years, there was a deduction in the chances of development of chronic diseases, such as congestive heart failure, Alzheimer's disease, and colon cancer, decades later by 20 percent.

"What sets this study apart is that it focuses on the relationship between midlife fitness and quality of life in later years. Fitter individuals aged well with fewer chronic illnesses to impact their quality of life," said Dr. Benjamin Willis of The Cooper Institute, first author of the study.

Apparently, this pattern was found to be consistent till the end of life with more physically fit people living the final five years of their lives with fewer chronic diseases. Also, the findings were true for men as well as women.

The findings thus suggest that activities such as walking, jogging and aerobic activities are not only important for a longer life span, but also for a healthier and better quality of life, Dr. Berry said.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recommends a minimum of 2 ½ hours of moderate to intense aerobic activity each week for adults to ensure overall health benefits.