Remaining physically active in golden years can add four years to life

Active seniors interested in a healthy retirement living may have another reason to step outside and go for a walk - new research shows that staying physically active can add up to four years to a person's lifespan, according to United Press International.


The study, which was conducted in Germany, assessed over 600,000 marathon and half-marathon runners to better observe the effects of aging on the body.

Researchers concluded that the physical problems of age are not necessarily due to becoming older. Instead, they are decided by two factors: poor lifestyle habits and a lack of exercise.


The physical performance of these runners only started to show definitive signs of aging by 54. Also, 25 percent of runners aged 50 to 69 had just taken up the sport five years prior to the study and didn't have to train any more than younger athletes to maintain their fitness levels.


HealthNewsDigest.com reports that active seniors and others who are planning to start running should begin very slowly, with distance increments of no more than 10 percent each week, so that the body can become acclimated to the impact and intensity of the sport.


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