Exercise is More Important than Ever

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7554293.stm

I was looking around on the internet for a blog post to write and I came across a more interesting subject than I thought I was going too at first. At BBC news in England they released an article, or should I say study of runners that has been going on for over nineteen years. This study proves that runners and/or people who participate in cardiovascular activities on a regular base live longer, age slower, and are more active human beings in their older years. The study started with 500 joggers that are in their 50’s and 500 non-joggers in their 50’s. The results were amazing, the joggers were less likely to die early from cancers and enjoyed a far healthier life and more active life style than those who did not jog. After almost nineteen years had went by, 34% of the non-joggers had died and only 15% of the joggers. Of course both sides had more trouble as they aged, but the joggers had fewer health problems in general and were living healthier lives. Another cool fact is that the joggers group did not have as many cases of osteoarthritis or total knee replacements; this really shocked the doctors giving the study. One would of thought that the jogger group would have way more knee problems than the non-jogger group. Whenever they first started this study the joggers were jogging about four hours a week and after 21 years it slowed down dramatically to 76 minutes a week. This is of course something that isn’t very shocking because of the less time, but the fact that the jogger group is now in their 70’s and still jogging is. One of the main doctors giving the study, James Fries said, “The study has a very pro-exercise message. If you had to pick one thing to make people healthier as they age, it would be aerobic exercise.”

After reading this article I started thinking that I should start a jogging regiment. I believe that jogging is a great way to stay in shape and this study has proved it to me. I can’t believe how many of the non-joggers had died, compared to the jogger group. Those numbers are pretty amazing.

I reacted this way because those numbers really are amazing. These older people who are in their 70’s have lead better more active lives than the other group. I really hope that I can put myself into that side of the study and live a longer healthier lifestyle. I think that aerobic activities are already a fun and exciting thing to do, I just hope that I continue these activities in my older years.