The short answer about the
relationship of age to fitness is that everyone, no matter what age they are,
needs to be fit. That being said, there are certain differences in fitness
programs depending on age and stage of life. The true question about age is not
if fitness is needed, but how it should be achieved.
Children have special fitness
needs due to their age. Children should have some planned physical exercise
every day. For young children, this might be movement games or simple exercises.
Older children up to 12 years old need more vigorous activity each day.
Sometimes that can come from an organized sport, if it is active enough.
Children also need periods of
free play, at least one hour per day. During this time, they should move around
and play imagination-oriented games or socially-based games that keep them
fairly active. In any case, children should not be completely inactive for long
periods of time. If your child sits or lies around for more than two hours
outside of sleep time, it is time to take action.
Many teens rebel against fitness
routines imposed on them by adults. They need to be active, but it is better to
encourage them to find ways of getting exercise throughout their day than
enforcing a strict workout routine. Walking or riding a bike to school may help.
Socially-motivated exercise such as going to a beach party where everyone swims
can improve fitness for teens.
When children get to be teens,
they can really begin to benefit from weight training if they are so inclined.
With the help of a coach or skilled parent, they can learn and increase their
fitness. If teens are interested in sports, they may not want to only do the
mandatory, at-school practice and games. They can also be encouraged to train
for the sport in their off time to improve their performance. Again, as with
younger children, teens should not be allowed to be totally inactive for long
periods of time.
Healthy adults have many choices
in how to pursue their fitness goals. They can do circuit training, interval
training, play organized sports, play sports on an informal basis such as rounds
of golf or sets of tennis, or do straight cardio or weight training. It helps to
mix it up a bit to get a well-rounded workout, but the important thing is to be
active every day. All during your young and middle adult years, you have the
opportunity to put yourself in a position for a healthy older adulthood.
The elderly have fitness needs
too. They will be healthier and live longer if they stay active to the best of
their abilities. Yet, the activities they can do might be more limited. Instead
of kick-boxing, a seventy-year-old might be better off doing tai chi. Instead of
doing a high impact aerobics routine, the same person might prefer doing water
aerobics. The main emphasis at all ages should be on being active.