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Invite an Older Family Member to Start the NIA’s Exercise Program with You

  

For Release
May, 2002

Contact:
Jeannine Mjoseth
301-496-1752
mjoesethj@nia.nih.gov

[Note to Editors: Father's Day is June 16 . It takes 2 weeks for our information center to fill requests for the exercise guide.]

Instead of adding to his tie collection, invite dad to become your fitness partner on Father’s Day, urges National Institute on Aging Director Richard J. Hodes, M.D.

"Besides being more fun, an exercise partner can motivate you to work out on days when you may not feel like it. If you don’t live close to each other, plan a time to call and check in with your #1 fitness buddy,” says Dr. Hodes. Scientific studies show that staying physically active and exercising regularly can help prevent or delay some diseases and conditions as people grow older, said Dr. Hodes.

To get started, Dr. Hodes recommends calling for the free booklet, Exercise: A Guide from the National Institute on Aging. The NIA Exercise Guide – which is based on medical research and “road-tested” by thousands of Americans -- provides simple, how-to-get-started information on:

  • Endurance exercises like walking, which make daily activities easier and less tiring, thereby increasing or maintaining stamina and strength. They also may help delay or prevent diabetes, colon cancer, heart disease and stroke;
  • Strength exercises like lifting weights, which increase metabolism helping to control weight and regulate blood sugar. Studies show, they also may help prevent osteoporosis;
  • Flexibility exercises like stretching, which may help prevent and aid recovery from injuries;
  • Balance exercises, which help prevent falls -- a major cause of broken hips and other injuries that lead to disability and loss of independence.

Safety is key to the NIA’s exercise program. For those who have been sedentary, the guide recommends starting slowly with as little as 5 minutes of walking. By exercising together, partners can help motivate each other towards the goal of 30 minutes (or more) of continuous exercise that increases heart rate and breathing (endurance exercise). For extra encouragement, Dr. Hodes will send a signed certificate of recognition to those who stick with the program for 30 days.

“Once on the road to fitness, your father might convince your mother to join your family exercise program. That way everyone enjoys greater vitality and better health. Get started today!”

The NIA Exercise Guide is available in English and Spanish. To order either version of the guide, call the NIA Information Center at 1-800-222-2225. The media may obtain further information on the Exercise Guide from the NIA Office of Communications and Public Liaison at 301-496-1752. Graphics from the guide are also available.

The NIA, part of the National Institutes of Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, leads the Federal effort supporting and conducting research on aging and the special medical, social, and behavioral issues of older people.

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