Fitness Matters

“Individuals who stay active after they retire stay out of the hospital, have fewer illnesses and live at their homes longer.”                                                                                                              –Dr. Michael J. Foley, General Surgeon

Physical Activity & Exercise Improve Quality of Life & Extend Life

• Productive activity reduces mortality by 35%.
• Fitness activity reduces mortality by 19%. (1)

Physical Activity & Exercise Help Manage & Prevent Chronic Disease

• Regular exercise may reduce the risk of breast cancer by up to 50%, colon cancer by 30% and lung cancer by 20%.
• Physical activity and exercise can result in a 58% reduction in Type 2 diabetes.
• Fitness helps manage and prevent arthritis, osteoporosis and high blood pressure.
• Regular exercise lowers the risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease by 45%.
• Exercise has antidepressant effects.
• Physical activity and exercise speed recovery from surgery and illness and prevent re-admittance. (2)

A Closer Look: Exercise & Alzheimer’s & Dementia

• Regular exercise may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by as much as 50% and dementia by 60%.
• 30 minutes a day of exercise improves the quality of life for people living with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
• Those who exercised were less depressed, had fewer hospital admissions and a 50% reduction in falls.
• Regular exercise slows the progression of the Alzheimer’s and dementia and decreases overall medical costs. (3)

Exercise Reduces the Likelihood of Falls & Minimizes the Impact of Falls

• Loss of bone mass, muscle tone, strength and flexibility contribute to falls and the severity of injury due to falls.
• Falls are the leading cause of injury-related visits to emergency departments in the US.
• Falls account for 70% of accidental deaths persons 75 years of age and older.
• More than 90% of hip fractures occur as a result of falls, with most of these fractures occurring in persons over 70 years of age.
• Hospital stays are almost twice as long in elderly patients who are hospitalized after a fall than in elderly patients who are admitted for another reason. (4)

The data is crystal clear. Exercise matters.

(Go back to the Home page)

Find more health benefits on our full presentation >>

Find a full listing of resources on our research page >>

————————————————–