Take the First Step

Experts on aging, concerned about the 77 million baby boomers and the rapidly growing older population, feel more people need to adopt a commitment to physical activity. The epidemics of sedentary lifestyles and obesity in this country and the additional epidemic of an aging nation are extremely worrisome on many levels. The need to maintain independence and mobility of older adults is emerging as a national health priority.

The University of Florida is one of many campuses doing pharmaceutical research to find other ways to stop aging, yet so far there is nothing more promising than physical activity.   “Exercise is the closest thing we have to a fountain of youth," says Marie Bernard, deputy director of the National Institute of Aging. "With all the gains we've made over the years allowing people to live longer, it would be nice if more people would take advantage of exercise to improve the quality of a longer life."

Physical activity is important the older we get as a buffer against many age-related problems, including dementia and the muscle and bone loss that ultimately leads to frailty and loss of independence. Exercise also reduces the risk of getting heart disease and type 2 diabetes and helps prevent depression.  Individuals who have remained active and fit heal faster too.  The guidelines established for older adults by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services require 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity physical activity. More than 62% of adults do not meet the exercise guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  

Many fear exercise; they are afraid it will hurt or they will sustain an injury.  Others are just unmotivated.  The University of Maryland School of  Nursing is in the midst of a research project on how to motivate older adults to exercise; the average age of the participants in this study is 90.  They are being encouraged to exercise daily with onsite visits and many have been able to discard their walkers to ambulate independently, some have been able to progress to treadmills and stair-step machines.

Walking is the one form of physical activity that most of us can do; it requires no special equipment or travel time. It is also the least stressful exercise for the body.  Set attainable goals to start; walk around the block 3 times a week, park the car twenty feet further from the store entrance, push the shopping cart down every aisle of your local grocery or drug store--these extra steps count.