Q: My daughter has been getting after me lately to enrol in an exercise program. I keep telling her that at my age I do not need to do more physical stuff, but she won’t listen.
A: I doubt that your daughter is trying to prepare you for an iron man competition. Most likely she is just interested in your general health. When she is encouraging you to exercise more frequently, she probably has a point you might heed.
In the United States, the Center for Disease Control estimates that 73 percent of Americans older than 65 are overweight. I doubt that Canadians are much better off. Obesity puts a strain on a person’s entire system, leading to problems ranging from cardiovascular disease to diabetes. The cure for obesity is, you guessed it, proper nutrition and plenty of exercise. Your daughter is right.
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If you are one of the few who are not overweight, don’t think that you are off the hook. Exercising is as good for your emotional health as it is for physical well-being.
All of us know that exercise helps us deal with tensions and anxieties and that we generally feel better when we are more active. What is not as well known is that people who exercise think more clearly than others. In one study at the University of Illinois, a group of inactive seniors, aged 64 to 79, was encouraged to participate in a regular exercise program. On average, the participants in the program improved their abilities to think through problems by 11 percent.
But before you and your daughter stop at the mall to buy a new pair of running shoes for you, talk to your family doctor. She can give you some guidance to help determine how much of which exercise you should do.
Most exercise programs for seniors encourage daily brisk walks, a few moments three to four times a week lifting weights, and some regular stretching and balancing routines. None of these are too demanding, and all of them can be fun, especially if you encourage some neighbours to join you. They will be even more fun if your daughter jumps into them as well.
Jacklin Andrews is a family counsellor from Saskatchewan who has taught social work at two universities. Mail correspondence in care of Western Producer, Box 2500, Saskatoon, Sask., S7K 2C4 or e-mail jandrews@producer.com.
