Age Wise
The Evolutionary Evidence for Getting Off Your Butt
Unlike apes, we evolved to need physical activity into old age
Some food for thought as you laze about during the holidays: As you get older, you might naturally think you should take it easy, be less physically active to protect your precious body. Exactly the opposite is true, according to a new hypothesis that aims to explain how and why humans evolved to live so long and what evolution expects us to do about it in order to stay healthy.
Unlike the apes in our family tree, we humans evolved to be quite physically active, especially as we age, according to a new hypothesis.
Moderate physical activity throughout life, and particularly later on, is a key to the comparatively long human lifespan and also the so-called healthspan, the years we live in good health, a team of evolutionary biologists and biomedical researchers argue. Whether running from tigers, hiking for miles to fetch water, or simply heading out for a nice brisk walk after an outsized meal, physical activity directs the body’s energy into slowing the aging process and protecting us against debilitating and deadly diseases.
“It’s a widespread idea in Western societies that as we get older, it’s normal to slow down, do less, and…
