Vermont Senior Citizens Are The Fittest

Just because your body begins to age it does not necessarily an end to your good physical shape. Quite the contrary, it means that physical exercise is needed more than ever to keep lurking diseases at bay.

A new study conducted by the United Health Foundation, performed an evaluation on the physical shape of senior citizens across the US and ranked all 50 states in order, from fittest and healthiest to the least fit and healthy.

The number one state where seniors stay in shape is Vermont, while Louisiana has the least fit seniors. The study is conducted yearly and although there were no big surprises, Kansas dropped a great deal of places from the healthy state zone to the not-so-healthy category.

The study takes into account, smoking, teeth conditions, obesity and chronic conditions as well as the number of residents that require home care or nursing services per state.

A good method to stay young and in shape is physical activity and there seems to be a growing trend of older citizens interested in gaining a good physical shape, especially in states who ranked higher in the fit and healthy category

If you are over 50 and are thinking about taking up a sport as a hobby there are a few facts you should take into account:

– Consult your physician to make sure that your are able to follow a fitness regime. Cardiovascular problems, arthritis and many other illnesses mean that you need a special type of workout, to avoid endangering your life.

– Be sure to take it easy at first so as to avoid injury. For example, if you want to take up jogging, first start with fast-paced walks.

– Listen to the advice of professionals. They have plenty of experience in what the human body can do and in how they can get someone into a good physical shape.

– Stop if you feel uncomfortable. Try to get to a comfort zone through exercise and avoid straining yourself.

– Work on becoming more flexible. While most people think of exercise as cardio, it is equally important to work on your flexibility.

– Don`t start working out alone. If you are not used to intense physical activity, you might injure yourself and you will need help.

– Avoid repetitive workouts and try to create a routine full of variety. Alternate hiking with swimming or with bicycle rides.

Studies suggest that physical activity helps promote health and strength regardless of the age of the person who performs it and so it is strongly advised that a person should incorporate exercise into their daily life, regardless of their age.
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