Key points from article :
As Canada’s population rapidly ages, with projections showing 1 in 5 people will be 65 or older by 2025, maintaining health in later years is becoming increasingly critical. A new review published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal highlights physical activity as a powerful, yet underused, tool for promoting healthy ageing. Despite its well-documented benefits, over 80% of Canadian adults fail to meet recommended activity levels.
Physical activity isn’t just about fitness—it’s a prescription for longevity and quality of life. Regular movement, particularly 150 minutes of moderate activity per week, can reduce the risk of death from all causes by 31%. It helps prevent or manage over 30 chronic conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, depression, and dementia. Moreover, staying active improves cognitive function, mental health, bone density, and balance, reducing the risk of falls and enhancing daily living.
Experts emphasize that age, frailty, or chronic illness shouldn’t be barriers to exercise but reasons to prioritize it. Tailored activity plans, incorporating resistance training, can be safely adapted for older adults. The World Health Organization’s “5As” framework provides clinicians with a simple guide to encourage and monitor physical activity as a vital sign in patient care. The message is clear: staying active can add not just years to life, but life to years.
