The World Is Getting Older

Every country in the world is experiencing the same conundrum. People are getting older. Medical and technical advances have resulted in the number of older adults aged 60 and older to double by 2050, with 80% of the older population living in low and middle-income countries.

What is Healthy Aging?

The World Health Organization defines healthy aging as “the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables well-being in older age”. However, equally important is the fact that being free of illness or disease is not a requirement for healthy aging, since many older adults have one or more health conditions which, when well-managed, have little impact on their overall well-being.

How Can Physical Fitness Help?

Maintaining physical fitness is therefore essential, as it directly influences the ability to perform daily living activities and, consequently, the health status of older adults. Lower fitness levels can make these activities more difficult, representing a risk to their independence.

To become physically fit, requires combined training, which includes both strength and aerobic exercises. Additionally, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) plays a critical role in reducing the incidence of noncommunicable chronic diseases, overall mortality, and cardiovascular disease-related mortality, even in individuals with cardiovascular disease. Low levels of muscle strength are also predictors of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk in adults and older adults. Moreover, the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines emphasize the importance of aerobic exercise in maintaining and improving various aspects of cardiovascular function and health. It also enhances the ability to perform daily living activities independently, thereby improving the overall functional fitness of older adults.