Belmont Village Quarterly Newsletter
on Senior Living

Fit for Life

Over the years, physical fitness has been shown to improve overall health, reduce risk factors for certain diseases, improve mood, and, most recently, boost cognitive function. Now, according to a new report from an ongoing study by Dr. Xuemei Sui of the University of South Carolina and her colleagues, physical fitness after the age of 60 can help you live longer, regardless of your body’s fat content.

The study subjects were 2,600 men and women, age 60 or older, who were participating in the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study, funded by the National Institutes for Health's Institute on Aging and Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The average follow-up period was 12 years.

Dr. Sui and her colleagues examined the difference between fitness, fatness and mortality in older adults. The scientists saw a significant difference in the survival rates between the least fit and most fit subjects who weighed similar amounts. Even subjects in the low-fitness group fared substantially better than those in the least fit category. However, greater fitness, lower body mass index and lower waist circumference were all factors in reducing mortality risk.

According to researchers, these findings indicate that you don’t have to be thin to benefit from regular physical activity. Regular activity—like brisk walking for at least 30 minutes most days—is all that is needed to allow most older adults to avoid the least fit category and can possibly prolong lives.

For many of us, this is just added incentive to keep our annual New Year’s resolution to exercise more and improve fitness, and it’s never too late to start. Every Belmont Village community comes equipped with a Center for Life Enhancement fitness center, with exercise equipment specifically designed to address the needs of older adults. The centers are supervised and wellness professionals are available to help residents develop an appropriate fitness plan. Additionally, regular exercise classes are available and designed to accommodate a range of abilities. Residents are asked to consult with their physicians before beginning any new exercise program.

For more information about Belmont Village, please visit www.belmontvillage.com, or click here to submit a request via our online Information Center.

More Resources:

www.nih.com