Local fitness club holds active aging week

VERNON-The International Council on Active Aging (ICAA), with the support of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, will join forces with Ladies Workout Express to bring free fitness memberships, classes and health information to older adults for the second annual Active Aging Week from Sept. 27nOct. 3. Millions of older adults suffer from chronic illness that can be prevented or improved through regular exercise, yet more than a third of adults over age 65 remain inactive. This month, Ladies Workout Express joins an alliance of wellness organizations that are setting out to change that fact by reaching more than 1 million senior citizens. "As people get older, they're frequently told what they can't do. But the truth is, you're never too old to become physically active," says Scott Breault, spokesman for Lady of America/Ladies Workout Express. "Often, the physical frailty attributed to aging results from under use, rather than wear and tear. Our goal is to help people understand the advantages of regular exercise and provide fun and simple ways for them to get active and stay active." Apart from increasing energy, strength and self-esteem, regular exercise also helps to maintain mental capacity and aid in the management of debilitating conditions such as arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes and osteoporosis. For older adults in particular, this translates into increased independence, with exercise helping to increase strength and flexibility and lower risk for disease. "Many people still don't realize that physical inactivity is contributing to a number of the chronic diseases affecting older adults, including heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer and high blood pressure," says Colin Milner, International Council on Active Aging CEO. "We want to spread the word that there are simple steps we can all take to improve the health of older generations." According to the Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging, by 2030 the number of older Americans is expected to double from 35 million to 70 million, placing increased demand on the public health system. Statistics also indicate health care expenditures for people aged 65 and older are quadruple those for 40-year-olds, and those numbers are expected to rise. For more information, call 973-764-0060 visit myworkoutexpress.com or E-mail gwagner@myworkoutexpress.com