Essay, Research Paper: Physical Fitness

Physical Fitness: How to Help older patients live stronger and longer is an article that Discusses how physical activity promotes longevity and improves the quality of life, among the older patients in the United States. The authors of this article, Robert and Regina, also talk about benefits of exercise for health in general, and the importance of physical fitness for older Americans. Most older Americans are not physically fit and do not exercise regularly. This is especially true of older women, who are weaker than men and become disabled and dependent in the later years at a much greater rate. Most older patients seen in a primary care practice are not physically fit. As a case in point, 70% of women age 65 and older in the recent Study of Osteoporotic Fractures reported low-intensity activity (50%) or none at all (20%). Two-thirds (67%) reported more than 6 to 8 hours of sitting a day. According to the article, sedentary lifestyle in modern societies like America and Europe is caused by the increasing automation in the workplace, the dependence on automobiles, the overuse of television as a companionship, and things along these lines. The benefits of exercise are numerous. First, Exercise can increase the body's metabolism and make it more efficient in burning calories. As people get older, metabolism decreases and leads to an increased likelihood of weight gain and an increased percentage of body fat. Exercise can increase the body's metabolism and make it more efficient in burning calories. Therefore, the body becomes more efficient and is less likely to experience weight accumulation. Physical fitness also makes respiration more efficient by increasing the VO2max (the maximum volume of oxygen intake to the lungs). The VO2max is usually reduced with age. Fitness can be increased through doing aerobic exercise but also through anaerobic exercise, which can increase muscle mass and metabolism. Exercise also benefits the musculoskeletal system by increasing muscle mass, muscle endurance, flexibility, and balance. Also, some studies indicate that exercise can increase the efficiency of the immune system. Evidence strongly showed that the physically fit live 2 to 3 years longer and have a better quality of life than sedentary individuals. These people not only have less risks to developing diseases, but are also more likely to enjoy the later years of their life.
























Any time is the best time for a person of any age to start exercising. Exercise is movement-dancing, walking, lifting a weight, using the body. Older individuals tend to be willing to exercise if they are given appropriate recommendations and follow-up.