Fitter Hearts Beat Less, Live Longer: New Study Debunks Exercise Myth

To reach these findings, researchers monitored heart rates of individuals with varying fitness levels over 24 hours, including during training sessions. Even after accounting for exercise-induced heart rate spikes, the total daily beats were still lower in fitter individuals. Some athletes had resting heart rates as low as 40 bpm, compared to the typical 70–80 bpm seen in less active individuals.

“The fitter you are, the more metabolically efficient your body becomes,” said Professor André La Gerche, head of the HEART Laboratory. “Even if you’re training hard for an hour a day, your heart beats more slowly for the other 23 hours. The net effect is fewer beats used overall.”

Lower resting heart rate is not just a marker of fitness, but also of longevity and better cardiovascular health. While extreme endurance sports may temporarily increase daily heartbeats, the study found that regular, moderate exercise delivers the greatest benefits.

“The biggest bang for your health buck is going from unfit to moderately fit,” Professor La Gerche concluded. “Just a few hours of purposeful exercise each week can transform your heart’s efficiency and help make every beat count. It may even extend your life by years.”

Reference: Van Puyvelde, T, Janssens, K, Spencer, L. et al. Balancing Exercise Benefits Against Heartbeat Consumption in Elite Cyclists. JACC Adv. 2025 Oct, 4 (10_Part_2) .https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacadv.2025.102140