Exercise does the elderly body good
Exercise can’t stop the aging process, but experts at Baylor College of Medicine say that for the elderly, whether it’s weight training, walking, swimming or biking, 30 minutes of exercise three to five times a week is a good prescription for aging.
“It’s never too late to start exercising,” said Dr. Robert Roush, an associate professor of medicine-geriatrics at Baylor. “Being physically active and exercising regularly can help prevent or delay some diseases and disabilities as people age.”
Loss of muscle mass typically begins in the 30s or 40s. As muscles shrink, fat cells take their place and that leads to a slowdown in metabolism and weight gain even if caloric intake and expenditure remains the same.
“Any type of movement can be considered exercise, but resistance weight training has been shown to be the best way to reduce the loss of lean muscle,” Roush said.
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