Hong Kong | Middle-aged people who cannot stand on one leg for at least 10 seconds appear to be at higher risk of dying within a decade, according to a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Researchers found volunteers who struggled with the simple balancing test were 84 per cent more likely to die in the next 10 years than those who could stand unsupported, after taking into account variables such as age and illness. The results stem from a study of fitness and health among 1702 people over age 50 in Brazil, starting in 2009.

Bloomberg