It’s never too late to get fit, even for over-50s

GETTING fit in middle age halves the risk of having a stroke later in life, research shows.

Scientists say it is never too late to take up exercise – and doing so even after years of inactivity can quickly pay dividends.

They found men who started getting fit in their forties and fifties saw their stroke risk drop to levels seen among those who had exercised throughout their youth.

The findings, by Norwegian researchers, offer hope that it is not too late to get fit for the millions who do very little exercise in middle age.

Erik Prestgaard, a cardiology doctor at Oslo University Hospital, said even after decades of little physical activity, those who changed their habits in this period could dramatically improve their chances of a healthy retirement.

“If you’re 50 and not fit, over the next years you can become fit and lower your risk. It’s never too late to get fit,” he said.

Crucially, his team found those who did not take control of their health at this point saw their stroke risk soar.

The research team found that failing to exercise in these years could have a catastrophic impact on health in later life.

Public Health England has warned of an “inactivity epidemic” which has seen exercise levels drop 20% since the 1960s. Officials are particularly worried about the 6.3 million middle-aged people – 41% of the age group – who do not even take a brisk walk once a month.

The Norwegian researchers tracked 2 000 men aged 40 to 60, starting in the 1970s. They were initially monitored for seven years to see how their exercise habits changed.

Most participants – 65% – became less fit in those seven years, and only 35% took up more exercise.

The researchers then tracked them for another 23 years, in which time one in eight had a stroke.

Those who had increased their exercise the most in the seven-year window were 56% less likely to have a stroke later compared with those who had become more inactive.

Prestgaard said: “The men who increased the most were not fit at all, they went from low levels and moved up. A big part of these men were just getting themselves together.”

He added: “The findings are important because they show that even moderate increases in cardiorespiratory fitness in middle-aged men may significantly lower stroke risk. It’s a really big risk reduction – 56%.”

Prestgaard found no difference in outcome between those who had been fit all their lives and those who suddenly decided to get active.

And he said it would not take a big effort for someone to turn their life around.

“They weren’t marathon runners or anything like that.”

But he warned that those who let themselves go at this time – which the majority do – increased the risk of a stroke.

“If you’re in good shape when you’re 50 you can’t just stop working out. You have to keep it up.” – Daily Mail