Listen to the Joystiq Podcast (because your ears can't read)

Healthy aging: Is 60 the new 45?

Posted: Aug 31st 2006 10:02AM by Kristi Anderson
Filed under: Healthy Aging

According to recent news, America's definition of old age is changing. With 78 million adventurous and independent Baby Boomers now reaching 60, this age -- once considered nearing retirement -- marks a new beginning, not the beginning of the end.

It's not just a state of mind; there are also medical reasons for it. Preventive medicine, advances in drug development (including sex-enhancing drugs like Viagria and Levitra) and innovative medical technologies are literally turning 60 into the new 45. The proof is in the numbers. The world's oldest man -- Puerto Rican Emiliano Mercado del Toro -- turned 115 last week. And Maria Esther de Capovilla of Ecuador, the oldest woman, died this past Monday at 116.

On some days, I view the opportunity to live longer as great news (my healthy habits now will pay off later!). Other days, when I feel every bit my 30-ahem-something age and I can't imagine working another 35+ years, that good news? Yeah, I'm thinking not so much.

Speaking of work, even the concept of retirement is changing. Recent surveys by the AARP show that two-thirds of Americans age 40 and over say they'll work well past age 65. Whether this decision is due to financial need or a desire to keep working, just this assumption reveals a common attitude that we'll be healthy enough to work.

But is society ready for this? One concern is that older workers may find it tough to compete in the job market, especially when fresh college graduates will work for relatively little money. We're still a youth- and beauty-oriented country. We can only hope that peoples' changing attitudes about just what is "old" will be coupled by a greater acceptance and respect for the wisdom and resilience a handful of decades few years logged can produce.

If I bank on that, I better start taking more cold showers, drinking rum and hitting my knees ... not necessarily in that order!

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)



That's Fit Features





How many calories burned? What is my BMI?
More weight loss tools!


Features
AOL Health Bloggers (60)
Ask Fitz! (85)
Ask Laura! (27)
ATIO: Summer Quick Fix Challenge (6)
ATIO: Wednesday Weigh-In (4)
ATIO: Weekly Weight-loss Results (4)
Celebrity Fitzness Report (46)
Daily Fit Tip (457)
Diet Derailers (11)
Fit Beauty (98)
Fit Factor (98)
Fit Gadgets (38)
Fit Kicks Videos (11)
Fit Links (106)
Fit Mama (10)
Fit Pregnancy (22)
Fitku (14)
FitSpirit (46)
FitTV (16)
Fitzness Fiends (52)
Gut Busters (4)
Healthy Handful (11)
How Many Calories? (114)
Jogging for Normal People (18)
Jonny's Take (2)
Jumpstart Your Fitness (89)
Life Fit Chat with Laura Lewis (106)
Life Fit with Laura Lewis (57)
Meet the Bloggers (20)
One Small Step (7)
Podcasts (44)
Recipe Rehab (23)
Retro Review (3)
Road To Fitville (16)
Stress Less (37)
Taking Off Ten (12)
That's Fit Club (6)
That's Fit In The Field (5)
The 5 (43)
The Daily Turn On! (115)
The Good, The Fat and The Hungry (22)
Tuck It In (17)
Walking the Walk (11)
We Love To Gawk At Fit Celebs (87)
We Love To Gawk At Fit Celebs Weekly Roundup (43)
Week In Review (69)
Working In the Workouts (55)
Workplace Fitness (90)
You Are What You Eat (68)
Your Turn (64)
Healthy Living
Alternative Therapies (302)
Book Reviews (100)
Celebrities (1046)
Cellulite (239)
Diet and Weight Loss (2654)
Eco-Travel (80)
Emotional Health (1313)
Fit Fashion (104)
Fitness (4059)
Food and Nutrition (4739)
General Health (5576)
Giveaways (22)
Health and Technology (674)
Health in the Media (1298)
HealthWatch (466)
Healthy Aging (759)
Healthy Events (167)
Healthy Habits (2168)
Healthy Home (460)
Healthy Kids (1638)
Healthy Places (253)
Healthy Products (977)
Healthy Recipes (359)
Healthy Relationships (314)
Men's Health (1540)
Natural Beauty (232)
Natural Products (243)
Obesity (341)
Organic (225)
Spirituality and Inspiration (291)
Stress Reduction (550)
Sustainable Community (243)
Vegetarian (310)
Vitamins and Supplements (285)
Women's Health (2110)
Work/Home Balance (198)

RESOURCES

Powered by Blogsmith

Daily Fit Tip

If you're trying to lose weight, know which foods you can eat plenty of -- and keep them around....

 

Featured Stories

Sponsored Links

Most Commented On (60 days)

Recent Comments


Aches, pains? Find out what your symptoms mean:

Sites We Love

Other Weblogs Inc. Network blogs you might be interested in: