Ageism is ugly, mean, and stupid – and it’s also dangerous to your health.
The good news? By exercising regularly and living a healthy lifestyle, you’re achieving two awesome tasks:
- Overcoming ageism’s negative effects on you
- Setting an example to show other people over 50 they can do the same
The UN and the World Health Organization reported this year that half of us have ageist views – and that these lead to poorer physical and mental health, and reduced quality of life for older people.
“The response to control the COVID-19 pandemic has unveiled just how widespread ageism is,” WHO says. WHO says that by 2050, the world will have 2 billion people over 60. That’s more than double the number in 2015.
WHO added something we always say: “Strength training to maintain muscle mass and good nutrition can both help to preserve cognitive function, delay care dependency, and reverse frailty.”
Researchers from Texas A&M found that people over 60 are told to limit their physical activity based on outdated stereotypes. They even impose harmful limits on themselves, believing (wrongly) that they shouldn’t exercise because of their age. Then their inactivity breeds frailty, weakness, and poor balance.
“The purpose of highlighting exercise-related ageism is to encourage more seniors to be physically active and set goals based on individual levels of fitness and athletic ability, not chronological age,” The Montreal Gazette reported.
We couldn’t agree more! Call us now and we’ll help you find what’s right for you.
Holly Kouvo is a personal trainer, functional aging specialist, senior fitness specialist, brain health trainer, writer, and speaker.