Exercise Even More Important For Those Over 45

Way too many people think that exercise is for the young. Way too many people also think of exercise only as a means to a hot body.

We need to change our way of thinking.

The U.S. population is aging, getting fatter and more inactive. Contrary to popular belief, you don't get weak and frail because you get older. The truth is, people get weak and frail because they do nothing to maintain their muscle and bone fitness as they age.

Because our lives are so less physical than in previous generations, we must challenge our bodies through exercise to maintain our health and fitness.

Without regular exercise that includes strength training, we gradually become less fit as we get older. And, according to a report in the October 26th issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, that loss of fitness accelerates after age 45.

Research has shown that individuals with poor fitness levels have a higher risk of a variety of diseases and have a harder time functioning independently. However, compared to sedentary individuals, those who are physically active, don't smoke and maintain a healthy body composition have higher fitness levels throughout their adult lives.


<== Not Annie. :-)

Annie, my 93 year-old Body & Soul member is a great example. She lives alone and still drives. That's possible because she remained active throughout her life and she still lifts weights three times a week. She's had her share of medical problems but she gardens and is able to do all kinds of things around her house because she has maintained her fitness.

I have other members in their 60s and 70s who continue to golf, bowl and play other sports. I've even had a few who participated in the Senior Olympics. Aren't those types of activities more interesting and fun than sitting around watching TV or complaining about your aches and pains?

The bottom line is that regular exercise improves the quality of your life. Period. You can find a partial list of the many varied health benefits of exercise here ==> Exercise Benefits (Scroll down about half way through the post.)

It's never too late or too soon to start. Get moving.

No, It's Not Your Genetics

Lots of people like to blame being overweight or obese or their genes. Too bad for them that a recent study has proven that excuse invalid.

The study found that the key is... drum roll, please...physical activity.

Yep, researchers studied a group of Amish in my neck of the woods and found that activity trumped genetics.

I've included the link but posted the entire article because yahoo is notorious for having articles disappear.


Exercise trumps obesity gene, U.S. study finds
By Julie Steenhuysen

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Vigorous physical activity can help even people genetically prone to obesity keep the weight off, U.S. researchers said on Monday.

They said a study among a group of Amish people found those who had an obesity-related gene called FTO but were very physically active weighed about the same as others who did not carry the gene.

"When we looked at the Amish who were the most active, there is suddenly no effect of that gene," said Dr. Soren Snitker of the University of Maryland, whose study appears in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The findings, which suggest physical activity can overcome a genetic predisposition for obesity, may help inform the debate over whether changes in diet or physical activity will make the biggest difference in fighting obesity.

Consumer groups have pushed for laws such as July's moratorium on new fast-food restaurants in certain Los Angeles neighborhoods, while the food industry often maintains that a lack of exercise is more to blame.

Researchers focused their study on a group of 704 Old Order Amish men and women in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, a religious group whose members often do not drive cars or have electricity in their homes.

Snitker said the group offered a unique mix of activity levels, with some farmers in the community still using horse-drawn plows while others holding more conventional jobs, including factory work.

He and colleague Evadnie Rampersaud of the University of Miami were looking to see if physical activity in this group might offset the effects of the fat mass and obesity associated with the FTO gene, found in more than half of all people of European descent.

RISK OF OBESITY

People with two copies of the FTO gene on average weigh nearly 7 pounds (3 kg) more and are about 70 percent more likely to be obese than those who do not have the gene.

The volunteers wore a device called an accelerometer to track motion for a week.

The researchers compared body mass index or BMI, a measure of weight to height, and found those who were less active and had the FTO gene variant were significantly more likely to be overweight or obese.

But among the most physically active, the FTO gene made no difference.

Snitker said the study gives some perspective on how the obesity epidemic has evolved, as modern conveniences have reduced the need and opportunity for physical activity.

People in the most physically active group expended about 900 more calories per day than the low-activity group. That would equal three to four hours of moderately intense physical activity such as brisk walking, house cleaning or gardening.

"We probably carry genes that 150 years ago were not risk factors for obesity, but because of changes in our environment, they become liabilities," he said.

Snitker believes societies should step in to make more opportunities for what he called "free" exercise, making it easier to walk or bike to work, or to use public transportation that requires some walking.

The World Health Organization estimates 1.6 billion adults worldwide are overweight and at least 400 million adults are obese. That includes a third of all U.S. adults.

(Editing by Maggie Fox and Todd Eastham)

Exercise trumps obesity gene