Studies followed Australian women over a 15-year period.
Those who met WHO physical activity guidelines reported higher perceived physical and mental health scores.
Women in middle age can improve physical and mental health through regular exercise.
In recent studies, scientists have discovered that women in their middle age can still reap significant health benefits from regular physical activity. According to research published in the journal PLOS Medicine, women who consistently met the World Health Organization's (WHO) physical activity guidelines or started meeting them at age 55 reported higher perceived physical health scores than those who did not meet the guidelines.
The studies followed thousands of Australian women and assessed their physical and mental health through surveys conducted every three years over a 15-year period. The participants were divided into three groups: those who met the WHO's physical activity guidelines consistently throughout the study, those who did not initially meet the guidelines but began to meet them at age 55, 60, or 65, and those who never met the activity recommendations.
The findings showed that women in both groups reported higher perceived physical health scores. However, it is important to note that there was a significant association between hitting the activity guidelines and perceived mental health as well.
Researchers emphasized that maintaining or adopting an active lifestyle in mid-age could have essential benefits for physical health later in life. Ideally, women should aim to increase their activity levels and meet the WHO's physical activity guidelines by age 55.
These studies underscore the importance of staying active throughout one's life to maintain good health-related quality of life as they age. Regular exercise is linked to numerous health benefits, including improved cardiovascular function, stronger bones, and better mental well-being.
Even women who didn’t exercise regularly before middle age benefited from new routine
Findings suggest midlife is crucial time for physical activity to maintain good health-related quality of life at around age 70
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(95%)
The article makes several statements that could be considered emotional manipulation and sensationalism. The author uses phrases like 'epidemic levels', 'it's not too late to take action', and 'turning back the clock in midlife'. These phrases are designed to elicit an emotional response from the reader, making them more likely to read on or share the article. Additionally, the author selectively reports details that support her position, such as the fact that women who met exercise guidelines had better physical health scores than those who did not. She does not mention any potential drawbacks or limitations of the study. The article also makes a claim about men without providing any evidence to support it.
For women in their 40s and 50s, it's not too late to take action.
Even just one point difference on this physical activity test can lower the risk of mortality in the general population.
Our findings suggest that to maintain good physical health-related quality of life at around age 70, one may be able to 'make up' for not being active earlier by becoming active in the mid-50s.
Fallacies
(95%)
The author makes an appeal to authority by quoting the research team's findings and their belief that men may also benefit from exercising in midlife. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that dementia, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis are reaching epidemic levels.
Our findings suggest that to maintain good physical health-related quality of life at around age 70, one may be able to ‘make up’ for not being active earlier by becoming active in the mid-50s.
Women in midlife who exercise regularly or start a new fitness routine have better health-related quality of life than their peers who don’t.
The benefits of exercise were the same for women who began consistently exercising at age 55 as those who had always exercised.
Experts recommend women prioritize exercise in midlife and ease into a regimen if starting a fitness routine for the first time.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The article makes several assertions that are supported by research and data. The author does not commit any formal or informal fallacies in the text. However, there is an appeal to authority when the study authors' statements are quoted.
“Combined with existing evidence, this study contributes to growing evidence of the benefits of maintaining or adopting an active lifestyle in mid-age.”
“An important public health message is that being active for as many years as possible, even if women start to meet physical activity guidelines in their mid-50s, could have important health benefits in terms of physical health, especially in physical functioning.”
A new study found that maintaining or adopting regular physical activity during middle age can significantly improve women’s health-related quality of life later.
Women who consistently met or started to meet the physical activity guidelines by age 55 showed significantly better physical health scores than those who did not.
Accuracy
Women who consistently met or adhered to physical activity guidelines by age 55 showed significantly better physical health scores than those who did not.
Those who met WHO’s physical activity guidelines consistently reported higher perceived physical health scores.
A study published Thursday found that middle-aged women need to get active or stay active by 55 for better quality of life as they age.
Women who consistently exercised at least the recommended 150 minutes a week or started to reach that threshold at 55 had higher physical health scores on average than those who didn’t meet the guidelines.
