The miracle cure: Exercise
If exercise were a drug, almost everyone over 65 would want to take it
If exercise were a drug, almost every single person on Earth would be prescribed it in the later years of their lives. The health benefits for older people are massive 鈥 it can help reduce the risk of dementia, type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer, depression, heart disease and more.
But not enough older people are getting the benefits of this 鈥渕iracle cure鈥 鈥 as the UK and Ireland鈥檚 Academy of Medical Royal Colleges describe it. They are living out their retirements suffering from chronic illnesses, while health services struggle with the costs of looking after an aging population.
Where there鈥檚 a problem, though, People Fixing the World finds a solution. Around the world, imaginative projects are springing up to try to get older people exercising. We hear from veteran cheerleaders in South Korea, walking footballers in the UK and the mayor giving out free gym vouchers in Finland.
Reporters: Tom Colls, Olivia Lang and Erika Benke
(Photo: An older person exercising. Credit: Getty Images)
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- Tue 4 Feb 2020 03:06GMT麻豆社 World Service Europe and the Middle East & West and Central Africa only
- Tue 4 Feb 2020 04:06GMT麻豆社 World Service Online & UK DAB/Freeview only
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- Tue 4 Feb 2020 14:06GMT麻豆社 World Service Australasia
- Tue 4 Feb 2020 15:06GMT麻豆社 World Service except Australasia, East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Tue 4 Feb 2020 18:06GMT麻豆社 World Service East and Southern Africa, South Asia & West and Central Africa only
- Tue 4 Feb 2020 20:06GMT麻豆社 World Service Australasia, Online, Americas and the Caribbean, UK DAB/Freeview & Europe and the Middle East only
- Tue 4 Feb 2020 21:06GMT麻豆社 World Service News Internet & East Asia only
- Mon 10 Feb 2020 00:06GMT麻豆社 World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
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