Age Guessing By Function
3 minute read
What if we did not keep track of our age, but rather monitor and rate our bodily function over time?
We have all come in contact with people who are significantly older than us that have better function than we do. Conversely, there are individuals younger than us that have drastically limited function due to inactivity and poor nutrition choices.
As we get into our ‘middle-agedness”, we start to think more about our future and what it holds.
We tend to focus on where we want to live in 20 years and when we can feasibly retire. Everything else is short-term thinking such as vacations, painting a room, or saving up for something special.
As you read this right now… have you given any meaningful thought to how you want your body function and quality of life to be at 40? 60? 80?
We are glorious procrastinators, at times. All of us. When it comes to our health and fitness, we comfortably allow ourselves to let other things vault in front our health when we all know that our longevity needs to be the #1 priority.
Longevity refers to the length of time an individual can live and remain healthy.
Having a solid quality of life, year after year, needs to be our ultimate goal.
There is a significant increase in behavior with individuals seeking out better ways to improve their longevity and make it a part of their lifestyle. This includes nutritional choices and what types of workouts are performed to improve their lives. Let us explore this.
Longevity it is an important aspect of human health as it is linked to the prevention of chronic diseases and maintaining overall well-being.
Taking care of our bodies through healthy habits such as regular exercise, a balanced diet, stress management, and avoiding harmful habits such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can significantly improve our longevity.
Furthermore, research suggests that engaging in leisure activities can also improve longevity in older adults. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) recognizes the importance of improving our understanding of aging and related diseases to support longevity, as stated in their strategic directions for research.
Longevity is a crucial aspect of human health, and taking care of our bodies through healthy habits can improve our chances of living a longer and healthier life.
As we age, our bodily systems gradually decline, including our muscle mass and function [3]. The process of muscle loss is known as sarcopenia and can begin as early as the age of 30 [1]. However, the most significant decline typically occurs after the age of 50 [2].
Your muscle mass starts significantly declining at 50 years of age.
Sarcopenia is a complex process that involves not only muscle mass loss but also changes in muscle quality, including a decrease in muscle fiber size, impaired muscle contractility, and reduced muscle strength [3]. These changes can lead to decreased mobility, balance, and coordination, increasing the risk of falls and fractures.
However, functional fitness training can help to mitigate these negative effects of aging on muscle mass and function.
Functional fitness is a type of exercise that involves movements that mimic activities of daily living, such as squatting, bending, and lifting. This type of training can improve muscle strength, endurance, balance, and coordination, leading to improved quality of life and longevity [2].
It is essential to take care of our bodies as we age to maintain our muscle mass and function. Proper nutrition, including adequate protein intake, is necessary to support muscle growth and repair [3]. Additionally, engaging in regular physical activity, including both strength training and aerobic exercise, can help to maintain muscle mass and function.
If your current state of function could be measured in years, how old would you be now?
If longevity is not your #1 priority, consider thinking about how you would like your body to function in 20+ years from now, then find functional fitness facility with trained professionals that can help.
It is never too late to focus on YOU.
1.https://www.britannica.com/science/human-aging
2.https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/surprising-findings-about-metabolism-and-age-202110082613
3.https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319185