Older People Who Enjoy Life Are More LIkely To Stay Physically Fit

University Herald

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Old People (Photo : Flickr) Senior citizens who get more enjoyment from life are more likely to maintain better physical functions as they age, according to a new study.

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Older People Who Enjoy Life Are More LIkely To Stay Physically Fit

(Photo : Flickr) Senior citizens who get more enjoyment from life are more likely to maintain better physical functions as they age, according to a new study.

Senior citizens who get more enjoyment from life are more likely to maintain better physical functions as they age, according to a new study Counsel and Heal reported.
Researchers at the United College London followed 3,199 men and women from England aged 60 and older for more than eight years to examine the link between positive well-being and physical well-being. They found that people who enjoy their lives are more likely to retain their physical and mental health.

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"The study shows that older people who are happier and enjoy life more show slower declines in physical function as they age," Dr. Andrew Steptoe of University College London said in a statement. "They are less likely to develop impairments in activities of daily living such as dressing or getting in or out of bed, and their walking speed declines at a slower rate than those who enjoy life less."
For the study, scientists separated the participants into three age groups, which were 60-69, 70-79, and 80-years-old and above. They used a four-point scale to assess the participants' positive well-being and physical well-being.
Based on their findings, researchers found that people in the 60-69-year-old group tended to have higher levels of well-being. Other factors that were tied to better well-being were higher socioeconomic status and higher education levels.  They also found that People who worked and were married had a good well-being, Counsel and Heal reported.
Researchers also said that people who reported lower levels of life enjoyment tended to have chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and depression. People with low well-being were more than three times as likely as their positive counterparts to develop problems in their daily physical activities.
 "Our results provide further evidence that enjoyment of life is relevant to the future disability and mobility of older people. Efforts to enhance well-being at older ages may have benefits to society and health care systems," Steptoe added.

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Older People Who Enjoy Life Are More LIkely To Stay Physically Fit

In my mid 40s my 15 year marriage was breaking up and it was sort of like watching a train wreck in slow motion where you are powerless to stop it. I didn't think I would emotionally or physically survive this breakup. I felt it was too late in life for me to survive a breakup then. However, then I met my present wife. I just needed someone to be nice to me and she was a grown up like me who hadn't been damaged that much by her childhood. She was a good person who slowly helped heal my wounds. After I almost died from a heart virus for 7 months around age 50 she insisted I retire so I could stay alive to help her take care of our then 2 1/2 year old daughter. I did. And this began the most wonderful part of my life. Luckily, we could afford by then to have a good life ongoing. So, even though I had planned as a younger man to work until I died. This all changed and I was able to retire at 50 after almost dying. The "Leisure to practice" I had prayed for since 1980 when I first met a Tibetan Lama I had. So, I became a House Yogi and started my first website telling the world about how God had changed my life as had all the amazing teachers I had met from all around the world. You might be surprised how amazing and good your later lives can be. Be open to it so it can find you. Then all you have to be is grateful for every moment life gives you that is wonderful and amazing. Stay physically active and try to walk every day. An apple a day and a walk a day might just keep you alive and happy!