don's report archive

by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.

Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

Getting old is easy. Everyone does it. No special skills are required. Getting old in top form -- fit, healthy, mobile, cheerful and enjoying life to the full -- that's a challenge. While the very young want to get older fast in order to stay out later at night, drive a car, play on a sports team or have a better chance with older women (teeny boppers), once a person passes 30, there is no rush to get older. In fact, after that, aging could be suspended, thank you very much, and no complaints would be heard. But, life is not like that -- we keep going after 30 and soon it's clear that we are not young any more. Denial works for a while, but there are limits. At 69 getting close to 70, even I'm beginning to sense a degree of fading youth.

One thing is clear, based on the evidence of countess studies and other research, backed by common sense: If our DNA code is fortuitously wired and our luck holds, we will do much better quality of life-wise, if we are trim and fit and living in a manner consistent with good health practices.

Now comes another incontrovertible fact: A proven way to sabotage your later years is be caught fat while old. Being fat is not a good idea at any time in life but excess weight is a particular burden in later years. New research provides a good deal of data to support what for many had been a common sense assumption. Now, there is evidence that being overweight, fat or obese AND old is outright dangerous. This situation is worse than just a matter of added strain on knee and hip joints and greater risk for arthritis. The qualitative drop in life quality with added pounds in later years should scare anyone old and fat to get younger or lose weight.

Even those who believe in miracles know that the former is ridiculous -- shaping up is the only option.

Last month, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published a report entitled, "Cause-Specific Excess Deaths Associated With Underweight, Overweight, and Obesity" (Vol. 298 No. 17, November 7, 2007). The major finding: If overweight and over 60 years of age, the risk of disability is twice that of normal-weight seniors.

If there is any good news from the University of Pennsylvania study of functional limitations based on a survey of 10,000 seniors over 60, it's that the overweight have lower death rates. However, this is tempered by the fact that they also have poorer life quality. Many can't get out of a chair, stoop or kneel easily, or do other simple acts of daily living, such as dressing themselves or carrying a grocery bag.

How were functional limitations measured? In the study, six tasks were used to assess this condition -- anyone who reported difficulties with four of the six was considered to have such limitations.

1. Walk a quarter of a mile; 
2. Walk up 10 steps without resting; stooping, crouching or kneeling; 
3. Lift or carry ten pounds.
4. Walk between rooms on the same floor.
5. Stand from an armless chair.

Another measure was daily limitation. Difficulties with two of these three tasks was considered such a limitation: Get in or out of bed, eat and dress yourself. 

Who wants to live if he/she has a daily limitation, so defined? Isn't it ok at some point to say, "For heavens sake, pull my plug! But, tell me a good joke first." Or something like that? Death is not the worst thing that can happen before you die. Having daily limitations might be worse, as might being subjected to torture or seeing another Republican elected president.

Whether over 60 or not (assume you will be, someday), be well and always look on the bright side of life.

(Note: This essay will be filed in the archives in the PHYSICAL DOMAIN under the skill area of appearance and aging. Additional articles related to this theme may be found there.)

(Ed. Note: Views expressed in this and other columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of the SeekWellness Editorial Board.)

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