(Web Desk) - Keeping a positive attitude and lifting weights as you get older could curb aging anxiety and ensure better health outcomes, according to a new study.
The study, published in Physical Activity and Health this month, was a follow-up to earlier research and focused primarily on African American respondents.
Researchers found that aging anxiety largely revolved around the fear of losing someone – a pattern that was common among people with low incomes and those living alone.
The study also found women between ages 40 and 49 were worried about their changing physical appearance compared to older adults and male participants. They were also more anxious about aging than males.
Although African Americans were less likely to exercise than their white counterparts, the researchers found they had a more positive outlook on physical activity, especially strength training.
This, the researchers say, is a key contributor to “healthy aging.” “One of the most important findings is that higher positivity about physical activity relates to lower anxiety about aging,” Sarah Francis, Ph.D., RDN, an associate professor at Iowa State University, said in a statement.
Exercising and strength training, in particular, can boost confidence among older adults, Dr. Francis points out, and lower anxiety related to getting older. That is because research shows that pumping iron can induce numerous health benefits.
“Perhaps this is because the physical, mental and social benefits of staying active contribute to overall well-being and a more favorable perception of the aging process, ultimately reducing anxiety related to growing older,” Dr. Francis explained.
Not only does strength training help build muscle, but it also conserves bone mass, reduces the risk of aging-related dementia, and helps retain skills like hand-eye coordination, walking or jogging.
In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends at least two days of strength training for older adults, including 150 minutes of moderate to intense aerobic activity, such as brisk walking per week.
Aging anxiety, Dr. Francis says, tends to result in poor health outcomes. And with roughly 10,000 adults turning 65 daily, and Baby Boomers on track to outnumber children by 2035, aging anxiety, or fears related to getting older, is also a growing concern. But viewing it “more positively as a life stage” and incorporating physical exercise as you get older, could have “better health outcomes” overall. “You’re more li
kely to make lifestyle changes that benefit you in the long run,” says Dr. Francis.