For Immediate Release:
September 15, 2000
Contact:
Jeannine Mjoseth
(301) 496-1752
Roberta Cohen, NSGA
(225) 925-5678
With the spotlight on Sydney, Australia, and the 2000 Olympic Summer Games, it is a great time to salute Senior Olympians who are stateside. Because fitness and sports are not just for the young, the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Senior Games Association (NSGA) are encouraging those 50 and older to exercise. To further this goal, both organizations have teamed with Borders.com to help spread the word about the benefits of exercise for seniors.
“We want to increase the number of older Americans who exercise because right now, more than two-thirds of all adults do not engage in regular physical activity," says Richard J. Hodes, M.D., director of the NIA. Research supported by the NIA, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, shows that exercise is important for people of all ages, restoring strength and stamina even in 90-year-olds. Most people know that exercise is good for them, but many don't know that it's never too late to get in shape.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with the NIA and Borders.com. Our goal of assisting seniors in achieving greater quality in their lives through fitness and sports will become a bit easier with the support of these two institutions,” said David F. Hull, Jr., NSGA's president and chief executive officer. NSGA is a national organization that promotes healthy lifestyles for seniors through education, fitness and sports. It coordinates the efforts of senior games organizations across the country and conducts both the summer and winter National Senior Games - The Senior Olympics. Annually, the senior games movement engages 250,000 plus senior athletes across the U.S. For those not ready for the Senior Olympics, the NIA has developed Exercise With the National Institute on Aging -- a practical, easy-to-follow exercise video that shows how to start and stick with a safe, effective exercise program.
It emphasizes:
Endurance exercises, which increase stamina and may help delay or prevent diabetes, colon cancer, heart disease and stroke;
Strength exercises, which increase metabolism helping to control weight and regulate blood sugar. Studies show, they also may help prevent osteoporosis;
Flexibility exercises, which may prevent and aid recovery from injuries; and,
Balance exercises, which help prevent falls -- a major cause of broken hips and other injuries that lead to disability and loss of independence.
During the month of September, Exercise With the National Institute on Aging and the NSGA will be featured on the Borders.com Web site. Each month, Borders.com, a provider of informational, educational, and entertainment products, partners with a nonprofit organization as part of their community giveback program.
The NIA leads the Federal effort supporting and conducting research on aging and the special medical, social, and behavioral issues of older people. A substantial part of NIA's research involves ways to prevent frailty and reduce disability with age.
