A new European study shows that just a little exercise, such as 20 minutes of brisk walking a day, is extremely beneficial, regardless of whether one is overweight/obese. The findings, from the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London in the United Kingdom, were published online Jan. 14 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. As part of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study, the team analyzed data from 334,161 individuals from across Europe between 1992 and 2000. 21,438 people passed away during the 12-year follow-up period. The team found that participants who exercised a little had a significantly lower mortality rate than those who did not. The analysis showed that walking briskly for 20 minutes a day burned 90-110 calories, which was enough to move a person from the inactive category to the slightly active category, and reduced the risk of premature death by 16-30 percent.