Primetime Living 9.27.26 - Flipbook - Page 8
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| Sunday, September 27, 2026
HEALTH
Time to Get Moving
Consistent exercise can lead
to healthy aging
By Gregory J. Alexander, Contributing Writer
L
ife expectancy in the United States recently hit an all-time high – the average
American born in 2024 is now expected to live to age 79, according to a
January report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National
Center for Health Statistics. The life expectancy number is the highest one recorded
going back to 1900.
“People are living longer because
more people are adapting to a healthy
lifestyle where activity and proper nutrition is key. Regular cardio activity helps
keep your heart, circulation and lungs
working properly; lack of physical activity slows your circulation and forces your
heart to work harder, which is one of the
leading factors of cardiovascular disease,” says Donyel Cerceo, marketing
director at Merritt Clubs, which has eight
fitness clubs in the greater Baltimore
area. “A healthy diet helps you maintain
a healthy weight and protects you from
chronic illnesses like heart disease and
diabetes.”
Merritt Clubs recently conducted a
six-week longevity study with 239 indi-
viduals who engaged in a structured
strength and endurance program consisting of strength training, cardiovascular exercise and health education to
determine how consistent exercise can
improve physical performance and cardiovascular health.
“Since Covid, we have been seeing
more people joining the clubs not to lose
weight but to live a longer, healthy life
with a better quality of life. We wanted
to open the study up free to the public,
so they could come in and see what a
difference physical cardiovascular and
strength activity could make in the way
they feel and their overall health. We
also allowed current members in the
study and saw members who would just
come in to use the treadmills or other
cardio equipment learn the importance
of strength training along with cardio
activities,” says Cerceo, who notes that
strength training is especially important
as you age.
“Strength training helps with bone
density to fight osteoporosis and help
with balance to prevent falls as you
age. If you have lower bone density, you
are at increased risk for hip fractures.”
Cerceo adds that women have a higher
risk of developing osteoporosis because
they experience a drop in estrogen
during menopause, which accelerates
bone loss.
Strength training can also lead to
increased lean muscle mass, which is
important because after age 30, adults
can lose approximately 3-8% of their
muscle mass every decade, which can
lead to decreased mobility and increased
risk of falling. Everyday activities such as
carrying groceries and climbing stairs
also become easier when you have
greater muscle strength.
Time to Get Moving
Continued on page 19
