In general, helping others is the main motivation for those who engage in volunteer work. What few people know is that the practice also improves the lives of those dedicated to doing good. Word of a scientist!

Recent studies show that people engaged in unpaid activities for the community are healthier, undergo more preventive exams, and spend less time in hospitals than the rest of the population. Some even lose weight!

We’ve gathered some examples of research that prove volunteering benefits everyone—including you.

When sick, volunteers spend less time in hospitals

A study from Harvard University, published in late 2015 and conducted with about 7,000 people over the age of 50 in the U.S., shows that volunteers are more concerned about their own health and, therefore, undergo more preventive exams. For instance, female volunteers are 53% more likely to have a mammogram than non-volunteers. Furthermore, when they fall ill, volunteers generally spend 38% less time in hospitals compared to the rest of the population.

The Harvard scientists can't pinpoint the exact cause of these findings, but they suggest interesting hypotheses: volunteering reduces stress, improving the quality of life for those who engage in it; exposure to diverse people and problems increases awareness of the need for self-care; and having a greater purpose in life enhances well-being.

“More social interactions can increase the likelihood of receiving health advice or even adopting a healthier life purpose,” write Eric Kim and Sara Konrath.

Donate time and lose weight

It sounds like a myth, but it’s true. Another study, conducted by researchers from the University of British Columbia, Northwestern University, and Mount Sinai School of Medicine with Canadian teenagers in 2013, found that young people who spent at least 1.5 hours per week helping others were slimmer than their peers. Additionally, they had lower cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and other indicators of good health.

“These findings are significant because they show that young people engaged in volunteering not only help others but also benefit themselves, suggesting a new way to improve health while making positive contributions to society,” write Hannah Schreier, Kimberly Reichl, and Edit Chen.

Live longer

The two recent studies confirm earlier findings. For example, a 2013 study conducted by researchers at the University of Arizona (USA) shows that volunteers live up to 24% longer than the general population. Another study from Rutgers University (USA) aligns with these results: the mortality rate of those performing some form of social service was 27% lower than the rest of the population.

All researchers affirm that merely volunteering isn’t enough to improve health. However, they agree that the practice greatly contributes to boosting self-esteem, fostering (or increasing) social awareness, and strengthening social bonds. Combined, these factors help improve individual health indicators.

According to the researchers, just as doctors advise patients not to smoke to prolong life, they should also prescribe volunteering activities. Additionally, they suggest that governments and health plans encourage volunteering, as it could help reduce costs and inefficiencies in healthcare systems.

“If well-designed volunteer support programs are implemented, they can simultaneously strengthen society, improve health, and enhance the quality of life for a large segment of the population,” conclude Eric Kim and Sara Konrath of Harvard.