A study, published in the journal of American Heart Association, has revealed that if a person takes care of their health by doing regular physical exercise and consumes a healthy diet during their midlife, it can help achieve optimal cardiometabolic health in old age.
Following a routine of regular physical activity combined with a diet including fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods may be key to middle-aged adults achieving optimal cardiometabolic health later in life, says the study.
Researchers noted that it has been unclear whether adherence to both the US Department of Health and Human Services’ 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and their 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, as opposed to only one of the two — in midlife confers the most favorable cardiometabolic health outcomes later in life.
Cardiometabolic health risk factors include metabolic syndrome, a cluster of disorders such as excess fat around the waist, insulin resistance and high blood pressure. The presence of metabolic syndrome may increase the risk of developing heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes.
The physical activity guidelines recommend that adults achieve at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week, such as walking or swimming. The dietary guidelines, which were updated in January 2021, offer suggestions for healthy eating patterns, nutritional targets and dietary limits.