Exercise helps one live longer in a few ways.
1. A fit person is more mobile than an unfit person, which leads to his ability to be more independent longer.
2. Exercise helps keep the blood vessels clear, which contributes to less chances of heart attacks or strokes.
3. Prevention of falls. A person who has eaten well and exercised throughout his life will have stronger bones. It is my understanding that the biggest contributor to removing a senior’s ability to live a long life is falling and breaking their hips. Most don’t recover when they’ve suffered that sort of injury.
In short, exercise may not be a big factor in being able to live to 100, but it certainly contributes to an enjoyable life up until the moment of death.
“In short, exercise may not be a big factor in being able to live to 100, but it certainly contributes to an enjoyable life up until the moment of death.”
I can agree with this, though I don’t necessarily agree with your points 1-3.
Exercise makes you feel better, probably somewhat good for you, but it doesn’t necessarily assure a long, healthy life.
I’ve known more than one person who exercised religiously, ate healthy, and died of a heart attack in their sixties.