Cecily O’Connor
RedwoodAge.com
Nearly half of adults over 50 consider their physical fitness to be above average, and are working out at least three days a week to improve their health.
Aspirations for a tone tummy are a big fitness driver. At least 63 percent of adults are more concerned with their abs than any other part of their body, according to a new study commissioned by Humana, a health benefits company. About 10 percent are fixated with their hips or bottom, while 5 percent worry about their legs.
"Firming up the abs is definitely a high priority with most of my clientele," said Arleen Cauchi, owner of Boomer Fitness in San Carlos, Calif., which creates customized workouts for adults 35 and older. "Some of it is because they are not spending any effort in that area and have developed a shape there they don't want.
"People are also more educated on how important the core is," she said, "and how strengthening the core can relieve a lot of pressure they have on their back and can eliminate back pain."
Staying physically active can go a long way toward improving fitness, as well as helping health-conscious adults boost their emotional well-being. Overall, staying fit is important at a time when many aging adults are trying to eat right and take care of their bodies to ward off many of the diseases that accompany age. In fact, pumping a little iron is being touted as a way to help heart failure patients gain strength for everyday life.
Most adults think they’re in pretty good shape already. About 97 percent said they are in good, very good or excellent health and 45 percent consider themselves above average in physical fitness. About 42 percent said that they look or feel better as a result of physical activity. Many adults reported losing weight since becoming more active.
Adults over 50 are clearly making an effort to ensure exercise is part of their routine. About three-quarters are active at least three days a week and 33 percent exercise at least five days a week. Nearly half have been working out for more than five years, demonstrating a long-term commitment. The survey includes input from more than 4,500 respondents polled on Eons.com.
Six Days a Week
"I encourage (boomer fitness clients) to come into the gym three days a
week and do something outside the gym three days, like golf, hiking or running
around with their grandkids," Cauchi said.
However, walking tends to be the most popular physical pursuit, with half of adults taking exercise in stride. Forty-seven percent said they like to train outdoors, while 40 percent prefer working out at home and 43 percent like to keep fit alone.
Boomers don’t need much prodding either to lace up their walking shoes. Only about 5 percent said they began exercising because of a doctor's warning. Finding a mate doesn’t factor much into the tone-tummy quest. Less than 1 percent said they worked out because they were re-entering the dating scene and wanted to look better.
