It’s never too late! Scientists have discovered that you can be lazy as a teenager by becoming active in your 50s
It can sometimes seem impossible to combine children, a career and a social life while staying fit and healthy.
But experts say getting active in your 50s isn’t too late to improve your quality of life.
Scientists have discovered that it may be possible to compensate for not being active earlier in life by exercising more as you get older.
Researchers collected data from more than 11,000 women at three-year intervals starting in 1996. They were all between 47 and 52 years old when the study began.
Scientists have discovered that it may be possible to compensate for not being active earlier in life by exercising more as you get older. On average, people who consistently met physical activity guidelines and those who first started following them at age 55 had a three-point higher physical health score compared to those who never followed these guidelines
Participants were classified as people who consistently met the World Health Organization guidelines for physical activity (150 minutes of activity per week) for 15 years, initially not meeting the guidelines but meeting them at age 55, 60, or 65 started meeting, or never met them.
The researchers also assessed their health-related quality of life, giving their physical health a score out of 100.
On average, people who consistently met physical activity guidelines and those who first started following them at age 55 had a three-point higher physical health score compared to those who never followed these guidelines.
Having a higher score means that a person is more likely to report that they are in good health, that they are not limited in performing vigorous or moderate activities, that they can run errands or climb stairs without difficulty, and that their health is in good condition. has no influence on it. with social activities.
The University of Sydney researchers said: ‘Combined with existing evidence, this study adds to the growing evidence of the benefits of maintaining or adopting an active lifestyle in middle age.
‘An important public health message is that being active for as many years as possible, even if women start meeting physical activity guidelines in their mid-50s, can have important health benefits in terms of physical health, especially in terms of physical Operate.
‘Our research shows that it is important for women to be active until mid-life so that they can reap the most physical health benefits later in life.
“Ideally, women should increase their activity levels to meet the guidelines at age 55.”
Dr. Binh Nguyen, one of the study’s authors, said it is important for middle-aged women to realize that it is not too late to experience the health benefits of exercise.
“I hope the study results inspire middle-aged women to stay active or increase their activity,” she said.
‘Our findings suggest that to maintain good physical health-related quality of life around age 70, one can ‘make up’ for not being active earlier by becoming active in the mid-50s.
‘It may be possible to ‘turn back the clock’ in mid-life through lifestyle changes such as physical activity.
‘Being active for as many years as possible, even if you start exercising regularly in your mid-50s, can have important physical health benefits, so it’s not too late!’
The findings were published in the journal Plos Medicine.