研究表明锻炼可以降低体能岁数

Study: Exercise Helps Lower Fitness Age 研究表明锻炼可以降低体能岁数

Every morning, Tony Diamond goes to a local park for an hour of fast walking. Then he runs for another hour. He also goes to a gym two or three times a week for muscle training. The retired¹ navy captain won three medals at the 2015 National Senior Games in the road race and the race walk in his age group, 85 to 89.

“My current age is 86 years old and my fitness age is 44," he says. “I think I have such a good number because I did a lot of exercise during my life. I've been exercising since I was a little boy.”

Helen White, a versatile² athlete who won a silver medal in pickleball at the 2013 National Senior Games, plays basketball and also teaches the sport to senior groups.

“I'm 62 years old and my fitness result showed that I was 32 years," she says. “It really wasn’t until I turned to 50 that I decided³ to become much more serious and focused about play, and just making sure it is daily part of my life.”

White and Diamond are among some 5,000 competitors in the National Senior Games, a biennial⁴ competition for athletes over 50 that was recently held in Minnesota, who took part in the study on fitness age.

The research, led by Dr. Pamela Peeke of the University of Maryland in coordination⁵ with Dr. Ulrik Wisloff of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, who developed a fitness calculator, found that older athletes’ fitness age is more than 20 years younger than their chronological⁶ age.

“You simply input⁷ very straightforward⁸ data," said Peeke, explaining how the study was conducted. "We ask you questions: your age, height, weight, how much you work out, your waist size, heart rate, blood pressure, and it goes on. Then you press a button, you find out what your actual fitness age is.

“This kind of testing, an assessment⁹ of fitness age, is actually very valid¹⁰ and it helps us understand the benefits of being fit and healthy,” she added, explaining that anyone can use the online calculator for free.

Peeke, a board member of the organization that runs the National Senior Games, says many of the competitors didn’t start training until later in life. Consisting of a variety of sports — from track and field to triathlon — the games' average competitor is 68, although their average fitness age is 43.

"It doesn’t matter how old you are," she said. "Twenty, 25, 30 ... who cares, all of us can lower our fitness age by staying right on top of it, taking good care of ourselves, especially physical activity."

Peeke says it is never too early or too late to start reaping the benefits of exercise.

1 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

2 versatile   

adj.通用的，万用的；多才多艺的，多方面的

参考例句：

• A versatile person is often good at a number of different things.多才多艺的人通常擅长许多种不同的事情。
• He had been one of the game's most versatile athletes.他是这项运动中技术最全面的运动员之一。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 biennial   

adj.两年一次的

参考例句：

• The workers were strongly against the biennial election.工人们强烈反对两年一次的选举。
• His is a biennial,and one of the most useful pasture plants we have.这是两年生植物，也是我们最有用的牧草之一。

5 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

6 chronological   

adj.按年月顺序排列的，年代学的

参考例句：

• The paintings are exhibited in chronological sequence.这些画是按创作的时间顺序展出的。
• Give me the dates in chronological order.把日期按年月顺序给我。

7 input   

n.输入(物)；投入；vt.把(数据等)输入计算机

参考例句：

• I will forever be grateful for his considerable input.我将永远感激他的大量投入。
• All this information had to be input onto the computer.所有这些信息都必须输入计算机。

8 straightforward   

adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的

参考例句：

• A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。
• I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。

9 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

10 valid   

adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的

参考例句：

• His claim to own the house is valid.他主张对此屋的所有权有效。
• Do you have valid reasons for your absence?你的缺席有正当理由吗？