It appears Zoomers who don’t exercise are actually biologically older than those who keep physically fit.

A new study suggests older women with sedentary lifestyles and low physical activity appear to be “biologically older” by eight years.

Researchers at the University of California San Diego looked at 1500 women and noticed that those who sat for more than 10 hours a day had shorter telomeres, which are small protective caps at the ends of DNA that protect genes from breaking down.

Previous research has linked shorter telomeres with a higher risk of certain chronic conditions.

The study also found that it didn’t take much to slow the aging process, showing that at least 30 minutes of exercise a day can help maintain telomeres. You can read about the study in the American Journal of Epidemiology and by clicking here.