Eight lifestyle changes, such as eating and sleeping well, could add more than 20 years to your life, new research suggests.

The research, presented at the annual meeting of the American Nutrition Association in Boston, was based on data from questionnaires and medical records collected between 2011 and 2019. The data covered more than 700,000 US veterans aged 40 to 99.

"Our findings suggest that embracing a healthy lifestyle is important for both public health and personal well-being," said Xuan-Mai T Nguyen.

"The earlier the better, but even if you make a small change in your 40s, 50s or 60s, it's still beneficial," she added.

The team pointed out that, when combined, lifestyle factors can have a substantial impact on life expectancy, extending a person's lifespan by decades.

Eight lifestyle changes that can extend your life:

1. Eat well.
2. Avoid cigarettes.
3. Get a good night's sleep.
4. Be physically active.
5. Manage stress.
6. Avoid excessive drinking.
7. Do not become addicted to opioids.
8. Create positive social relationships.