Health and Fitness for Women Age 45-60 - ODU（45 - 60岁的妇女健康和健身,ODU）.pdf

Health and Fitness for Women Age 45-60 A Curriculum Patricia D. Martin Southwest Virginia Community College Curriculum Development in Occupational Education Training July 24, 2000 Health and Fitness for Women Age 45-60 Curriculum Foundation Definition As the median age of the population in the United States gradually increases, members of the baby boomer generation Americans born between 1946 and 1964 (Schmitz, 1997, p.1) are beginning to see and feel the effects of aging. Many of them, however, are trying to redefine middle age as mid-youth, and they are reinventing mid-life by defying the stereotypical image of a 50 year old (p. 2). They are fighting the aging process with all available tools diet, exercise, cosmetics, cosmetic surgery, vitamins, herbal and hormonal therapy. They are paying close attention to both mental and physical health, and are making healthy lifestyle choices in an effort to more fully enjoy the middle and later years of life. Preventive measures, which may not have been adhered to, or even realized in younger years, are now being seriously considered. Baby boomers know their life span will typically be between 75-85 years and they want to be both mentally and physically fit as long as possible. Regular exercise and a low-fat diet consisting mainly of vegetables, fruits, grains and calcium-rich foods seems to be the battle cry of health and fitness professionals nationwide (Brody, 1997, p. 413). In its Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the United States Department of Agriculture supports moderate consumption of all food groups. At the same time however, fad diets purporting the benefits of protein over carbohydrates, or carbohydrates over protein, continue to assail the general public daily, and quick-fix weight loss programs are available for tho