exercise & ageing
R
Can the fitness industry
help reduce the state’s financial burden of social care for an ageing
population? Susie Srivastava investigates
T
he UK’s society is ageing. Current trends indicate that, by 2035, the number of people over the age of 65 will
rise by 60 per cent, by which time 4 per cent of the population will be aged over 85. In 2007, for the first time ever, there were more people over state pension age than there were under-16s. However, statistics also reveal
that, although we’re living longer lives, they’re not necessarily healthier: on average, men and women will live 6.8 and 9.1 years of their lives respectively with a limiting long-term illness, which will often result in decreased mobility and independence. In fact, it’s suggested that 60 per cent of those aged over 65 will develop a chronic illness, and the cost of care to the state is steadily increasing: strokes
and falls alone are estimated to account for £3.8bn annually. Peter Hope, of mobility product
manufacturer BalanceMaster, comments: “From our 30s, our bodies are in a state of physiological decline. This affects our strength, power, fl exibility and balance and, as functional capacity is reduced, will ultimately affect our ability to perform everyday tasks and maintain an independent life.” The evidence for active ageing is
compelling. Dr Dawn Skelton, an expert in ageing and health at Glasgow Caledonian University, has highlighted epidemiological evidence1
suggesting that,
compared to a sedentary lifestyle, more than three hours’ targeted exercise each week can halve the risk of osteoporosis, falls-related injuries and hip fractures. Regular moderate physical activity has
Clinical trials have demonstrated that the BalanceMaster can help increase lower limb strength, power, balance and confi dence
also been shown to reduce the risk of developing major chronic diseases by up to 50 per cent, and reduce the risk of premature death by between 20 and 30 per cent2
. However, just 17 per cent of
men and 13 per cent of women in the 65–74 age bracket currently achieve recommended levels of physical activity.
government focus
Given the financial and social costs associated with inactivity among older people, it’s not surprising that the government has concluded that prevention is better than cure. Indeed Phil Hope, minister for social care, spoke recently of the need for a “lifestyle revolution”, with a fi rm focus on stopping people getting sick in the fi rst place. ‘Be Active, Be Healthy – A Plan for
Getting the Nation Moving’ is a government strategy designed to have at least two million more people physically active by the 2012 Olympics. This represents a timely call to action that builds on the success of recent initiatives such as Change4Life and the free
1 Gregg EW, Pereria MA, Caspersen CJ. Physical activity, falls and fractures among older adults:
a review of the epidemiological evidence. J Am Geriatr Soc 2000; 48:883-93.
2
http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=9410646
42 Read Health Club Management online healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital
Regular moderate physical activity has been shown to reduce the risk of developing major chronic disease by up to 50 per cent
april 2010 © cybertrek 2010
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