Fitness Friday

Activity in Older Women, No Matter the Amount, Linked to Lower Mortality Rates

A recent study published in the American Geriatric Society Journal found that those who were older and exercised lived longer.

In an aging society where many older adults are overweight and obese, exercise has become an imperative to try and cut healthcare costs. Current official guidelines for exercise in the older adult population dictate spending at least 2.5 hours every week completing moderate activity, or 1.25 hours of vigorous activity. The problem with these guidelines is that many people feel that they are not fit enough to start working out, whether it be because of fear of getting hurt or not being able to do it because they aren't fit enough to start. Despite this fear, it is essential that older adults exercise to continue to live healthy lives, and in many cases longer lives.

Researchers studied 6,489 female participants aged 63-99 years old and gave them exercises, accelerometers, and questionnaires to complete. Many were considered overweight, and 30% of participants were classified as obese. The study was conducted between 2012 and 2013, and the death certificates were reviewed in 2016 to see how exercise affected the mortality rate of participants. 1% of participants scored low on light-intensity exercise, 29% scored high on light-intensity exercise, and 15% performed moderate to vigorous physical activity. After reviewing the death certificates, the researchers concluded that older women with higher levels of physical activity were were less likely to die than women with lower levels of physical activity, no matter the cause of death. They also concluded that light activity overall, led to a decline in mortality rate.