PETER'S PRINCIPLES - June 24, 2007
George from Walled Lake says he is overwhelmed by his doctor and family constantly urging him to exercise. He says he is 80 years old and has a hard time moving. What can he do?
Well George, I have some good news for you! A new study by the National Institute on Aging suggests for people over 70 the type of activity you do may not matter as long as you are active. Researchers say activities like sweeping, carrying grandchildren, climbing stairs and walking may be enough to help you live longer than if you don't do any sort of activity. It is recommended you do 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day. So mix it up and have fun!
Jennifer from Farmington Hills is dieting to lose weight, but she heard it could be bad for her bones.
Jennifer, that is a possibility. A new study found cutting calories alone could lead to bone loss. Researchers compared 2 groups of people. One group dieted to lose weight while the other exercised. While both groups lost about the same amount of weight, the dieting group also lost 2% of their bone density. The exercisers showed no bone density loss. Cardiovascular exercise and strength training increases the mechanical stress on the skeleton and that stimulates production of new bone. So don't just diet alone! You need exercise as well!
