- Researchers from Australia monitored the physical activity routines of over 11,000 females.
- READ MORE: For how many hours per day should you sit, sleep, stand, and exercise?
Balancing kids, a profession, and an active social life alongside maintaining fitness and wellness can often seem like an insurmountable challenge.
However, becoming more active in your 50s can still significantly improve your quality of life, as experts suggest.
Researchers have discovered that it might be feasible to compensate for a lack of activity during younger years by increasing physical exercise later in life.
The researchers gathered information from over 11,000 females every three years starting in 1996. At the commencement of the research, all participants were between the ages of 47 and 52.
The participants were categorized into four groups: those who consistently met the World Health Organization’s physical activity recommendations of 150 weekly minutes for 15 years; individuals who did not meet these standards early on but achieved this level of activity starting at ages 55, 60, or 65; and those who never reached these guidelines throughout their lives.
The researchers likewise evaluated their overall health-related quality of life, giving their physical well-being a score out of 100.
Typically, individuals who adhered to physical activity guidelines throughout their lives and those who began meeting these standards around the age of 55 scored about three points higher on measures of physical health than those who did not follow these guidelines at all.
A greater score indicates that an individual is more prone to indicate they are in good health, not facing limitations when performing intense or medium-level tasks, effortlessly managing chores like grocery shopping or climbing stairs, and experiencing no interference from their health condition in engaging in social events.
Researchers at the University of Sydney stated: "When combined with previous findings, this research adds to the mounting evidence supporting the advantages of sustaining or embracing an active lifestyle during middle age."
A key public health statement suggests that maintaining an active lifestyle over several decades, even if women begin adhering to exercise recommendations when they reach their mid-50s, may significantly enhance overall physical well-being, particularly in relation to their ability to function physically.
'Ours is a study indicating that maintaining an active lifestyle during middle age significantly enhances physical well-being in one’s later years for women.'
'Ideally, women ought to boost their activity levels to comply with the recommendations by the time they reach 55 years old.'
Dr. Binh Nguyen, who authored the study, emphasized that middle-aged women should understand it's not too late for them to reap the health advantages associated with exercise.
"I am hopeful that these research outcomes will encourage middle-aged women to maintain an active lifestyle or increase their level of physical activity," she stated.
The research indicates that individuals aged approximately 70 might compensate for previous inactivity by engaging in physical activity during their mid-50s to sustain a good level of health-related quality of life.
It might be feasible to reverse the aging process during middle age by adopting certain lifestyle modifications like engaging in regular exercise.
'Staying active for an extended period, even if you begin exercising consistently in your middle 50s, can yield significant health advantages regarding physical well-being, hence it isn’t overdue!'
The research was published in the journal Plos Medicine.
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