Active Aging for a Stronger Future

What comes to mind when you imagine your older self?

“A lot of the negativity we associate with aging—weight gain, loss of mobility and independence, and chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease—are not actually due to aging,” says Emily Johnson, founder of a seniors’ fitness education program. “Inactivity is the real culprit. Aging doesn’t equal chronic disease. Inactivity equals chronic disease.”

And there lies the rub. Older Canadians need 150 minutes of physical activity a week, but only 19 percent of those aged 50 to 64 hit those targets. The number drops to 15 percent in the 65- to 79-year-old bracket.

“Exercise continues to be the best way to stay physically and intellectually healthy as we age, yet the older we get, the less we seem to be doing it,” says Johnson.

She thinks it’s because of social conditioning. “As we move [through] adulthood and into our senior years ... seniors are encouraged to ‘take it easy,’” says Johnson.

It’s time to rewrite that story.

The game-changing benefits of active aging

1. You’ll live longer

In a study of adults ages 40 and older, meeting the recommended amount of weekly exercise added nearly 3 1/2 years to an individual’s lifespan. Even those who exercised less than the recommended amount still reduced their risk of early death by 20 percent.

2. You’ll think more clearly

Forget those so-called “senior moments” and memory problems that plague many older adults.

“Exercise jumpstarts the brain’s cleaning and rebuilding process known as autophagy,” says Dr. Scott Noorda, DO. The result? Improved memory, clearer thinking, and a reduced risk of dementia. Active aging has even been shown to increase the size of the part of the brain required for memory.

3. You’ll unlock real health

Dr. Marc Bubbs, ND, says that active aging tackles many of the major health challenges facing older adults.

“It improves blood glucose control,” says Bubbs, noting that high blood sugar levels are linked with an “increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all-cause mortality.

“It lowers systemic inflammation,” adds Bubbs, “[which] associated with cognitive decline and increased risk of chronic diseases. Exercise also increases muscle mass, which fights off the loss of muscle and bone that occurs as we age.”

The best time to start is today

“It’s never too late to get active,” says Johnson. In one study, those who didn’t become physically active until they were middle-aged or in their senior years still saw significant health improvements.

First, pick a motivating goal.

“As we get older, exercise becomes less about [appearance],” says Johnson. “Instead, exercise helps to maintain independence, like being able to cook, going to lunch with friends, or lifting a grandchild.”

What is one thing you want to keep doing as you get older? Or perhaps there’s something you’d like to start doing? “Once you have a powerful motivator, exercise won’t seem like a chore,” notes Johnson.

Then, choose a fun physical activity that gets your blood pumping. Life’s too short to take a fitness class or go to a gym that you don’t enjoy.

“We don’t have any control over getting older, but we can control how we move,” says Johnson. “If you lift weights, your muscles will respond. If you go for a brisk walk, your heart and lungs will respond. Your body doesn’t know how old you are. It only responds to what is required of it.”