Increased physical activity, when measured on a weekly basis, is associated with increased health. This is something that we’ve been hearing time and time again, but there is far more concrete evidence for this than ever before. Even the elderly benefit from being more active as it has the potential to reduce cognitive decline, increase strength and balance, and help prevent fall related injuries.
A new study looked at physical activity and found that five major areas were positively impacted when activity was on the increase. Researchers found that the likelihood and severity of five major chronic illnesses was less when activity was higher. Breast and bowel cancer, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease were all found to be lower risk diseases when the person looked at was active.
The catch that researchers were quick to point out with this study is that to reap the full benefits of exercise, you need to be far more active than the recommended minimum amount of weekly activity. In the past, the World Health Organization has recommended a minimum of 600 metabolic equivalent minutes of activity per week. This doesn’t need to be time spent in the gym or out jogging on the street, but it can be actively working outside in the garden, walking to work, or other, more low-key types of activity. Just being active and moving around is the key here, and thankfully, this is far more beneficial to certain groups of individuals, especially elderly individuals.
This most recent study wanted to find out exactly how much activity and what type was best for helping people to stay healthy. What they found was that the biggest gains occurred between 3,000 and 4,000 metabolic equivalent minutes per week–which is at least five times more than what the WHO has recommended. More exercise than this range actually led to diminished results. It’s probably not realistic to expect this much activity from our elderly loved ones, but the good news is is that even things that we might not consider to be exercise are very helpful, and there are still benefits that can be gained from simple things like spending time outside, going for a short walk, or even vacuuming the floor for a few minutes. Most seniors can find something that they enjoy doing and can do with relative ease, and they can reap the health benefits that come along with those things at any age. It’s best to start being active when you are young, but it’s never too late to start.
Other studies have shown in the past that exercise can help fight off dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, lower the risk of a permanent disability, and even hold off the need for in-home care or any other type of senior care. This study fits along with all of this previously known data, but pinpoints information more directly at certain diseases, and it indicates that the WHO may need to raise its minimum amount of recommended exercise in order to help more people stay healthy.
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