(WZZM) - You have heard for years how important it is to get exercise in your daily routine, but going without it could be worse than we first thought.

A new study says failing to get enough exercise is as deadly as smoking.

The Harvard study says a lack of exercise led to one in ten deaths in 2008.

That's 5.3 million of the 57-million deaths that year.  That is just slightly lower than deaths associated with smoking.

Previous Harvard studies found failing to engage in the recommended 30 minutes of exercise daily was the main cause of 6 to 10 percent of coronary heart disease, breast cancer, colon cancer and type two diabetes around the world.

If exercise simply seems too time-consuming or you don't know where to begin, keep it simple.

The Centers for Disease Control says a brisk walk 30 minutes a day along with two days of muscle strengthening activity greatly improves your health.

You don't even need to do it all at once. Ten minutes here and there is even beneficial.