Keeping healthy and mobile is the reason why 68.29% of physically active seniors in the Southwest say they keep fit.
That’s according to a UK-wide survey of more than 2000 people aged sixty and over. Just under half of respondents in the Southwest (46.65%), said staying active helped them manage chronic conditions like arthritis, diabetes and hypertension, while 48.7% said exercise helped keep them mentally sharp.
Other reported benefits included 26.8% saying physical activity was good for them socially and 29.27% who said the personal challenge was motivating.
A remarkable 34% surveyed in the region said they walk everyday – higher than the national average of 31.9%. Nearly 10% swim at least once a week and 15.85% say they do a gym workout two or three times a week.
Operating under the Better brand, GLL is the not-for-profit social enterprise that commissioned the research.
“It’s good to see health and mobility top the list of factors encouraging older people in the Southwest to keep fit,” said James Curry, GLL’s Head of Service in Cornwall.
“There is plenty of evidence to indicate the more we keep moving, the more likely we are to stay healthy for longer. That’s why our centres run bespoke senior group sessions and why those of a certain age regularly use our gyms and swimming pools.”
Mike Thomas, Independent Cornwall Councillor for Helston North, is in his sixties and a firm advocate for keeping active.
“Exercise at my age is essential for physical and mental health,” he said. “A visit to the gym or swimming pool boosts my endorphins and makes me feel so much happier.”
For more information on the senior activities available at Better leisure centres, visit https://www.better.org.uk/what-we-offer/activities/senior-activities
