Meet Dr. Kenneth Cooper: The 92-Year-Old Father of Aerobics Still Inspiring Fitness Today
In the 1960s, Dr. Kenneth Cooper pioneered aerobics, a fitness concept promoting heart health and endurance. Despite initial criticism, he’s now 92 and continues advocating for physical fitness. Cooper founded the Cooper Aerobics Center in 1970, impacting global fitness with innovations like the 12-minute run and FitnessGram tests.
Cooper highlights a positive shift in fitness for women, noting the increasing number of female marathoners. Despite fitness information availability, he stresses the global issue of sedentary lifestyles, emphasizing personal responsibility for health.
The “TEMMPF” challenge—lack of Time, Energy, Motivation, Money, and a Place to exercise, plus it not being Fun—contributes to people neglecting physical activity. Cooper’s efforts led to reinstating PE classes in schools, correlating fitness with academic success.
To “Cooperize” the world, he suggests maintaining a healthy BMI, regular exercise, smart food choices, no tobacco or excessive alcohol, stress management, regular check-ups, and appropriate supplements.
Cooper’s personal routine involves exercising five days a week, combining recumbent biking, circuit weight training, and walking his dogs. He emphasizes that fitness is a lifelong journey, not a one-time goal.
In simpler terms, Dr. Cooper’s story shows that age is no barrier to staying fit. He encourages everyone to make small lifestyle changes, stay active, and take charge of their health. For more details, check out CNN’s interview with Dr. Kenneth Cooper. (Source: CNN)
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/12/15/health/kenneth-cooper-father-of-aerobics-wellness/index.html