Exercising in your 30s slows aging

Exercising in your 30s can slow down aging and maintain physical capacity throughout life.

Why it matters

  • Building and maintaining physical capacity early in life can slow down the aging process.
  • It can help prevent or postpone illness.
  • Establishing good exercise habits early can lead to a healthier life overall.

By the numbers

  • We lose about 10% of our physical capacity every decade after 50.
  • WHO recommends 150 minutes of moderate to high-intensity physical activity per week.
  • Fewer than 40% of Norwegians follow WHO's physical activity recommendations.

The big picture

  • Physical activity doesn't have to be intense or time-consuming.
  • Finding enjoyable activities is key to maintaining a consistent exercise routine.
  • Consistency is more important than intensity.

What they're saying

  • Commenters agree that building fitness early helps maintain it later in life.
  • Personal anecdotes support the idea that early exercise habits lead to better physical health in later years.

Caveats

  • The exact impact of genes vs. lifestyle on aging is still unclear.
  • The data is specific to Norwegians and may not apply universally.

What’s next

  • More research is needed to understand the genetic vs. lifestyle factors in aging.
  • Encouraging people to start and maintain exercise habits early in life.