Middle aged people who do half an hour's vigorous activity three times a week are half as likely as the sedentary to suffer physical decline and impaired mobility as they get older.

"Use it or lose it" was the message from Dr Iian Laing, who,with collaborators in the United States studied data on more than 10,000 people aged between 50 and 69 for up to 6 years,   Importantly, he said, the benefit of exercise was enjoyed regardless of body mass index.All groups roughly halved their risks of physical decline by doing exercise-so that a fit obese person did as well, or better, than a thin, unfit one.   

They conclude in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society  that those who maintained a reasonably level of physical activity were more likely to be able to walk distances, climb stairs, maintain their sense of balance, stand from a seated position with their arms folded, or sustain their hand grip as they got older.   

Across all weight ranges, the rate of physical ability later in life was twice as high among those who were less physically active. Being overweight or obese was linked with an increase in disability, but much of that increased risk could have been eliminated by keeping fit.    Exercise in middle age does not just benefit people in terms of weight loss-it also helps them remain physically healthy and active in later life.

Source-Nigel Hawkes, Health editor, the Times.