Is it possible that fitness over 50 is the "cure" most midlife men are looking for?

According to a recent study by the New England Research Institutes in Massachusetts, the answer is a resounding "yes". The study, which followed 1,667 men ages 40 through 70, indicated that as the men aged the importance of weight control through regular exercise becomes vital.

The history of the participants showed that increases in weight led to major decreases in the production of testosterone, the primary male hormone. For men over 50, this means that something as simple as a daily morning jog, stopping by the gym a few times a week, or even lifting weights in the garage can improve endurance, increase energy, and even enhance sexual performance and increase libido.

Testosterone levels go down as weight goes up

In normal healthy men testosterone production generally decreases about one percent per year after the age of 40. But the New England research revealed that as the Body Mass Index or BMI rose into the level of obesity, the production of testosterone dropped off dramatically. In fact, moving from a non-obese to an obese BMI category was linked to a reduction in testosterone equivalent to10 years of aging.

Low testosterone linked to a host of mental, physical, and sexual problems

Low testosterone levels play a role in many of the symptoms and syndromes associated with male aging, male "menopause", and the classic male mid-life crisis. In addition, low levels of this crucial hormone are believed to contribute to a host health conditions, including diabetes, osteoporosis and impaired sexual function.

Both mental ability and sexual function are markedly effected by major drops in testosterone levels. A French study by the Saint-Etienne University Hospitals found that lower levels of testosterone are definitely linked to measurably poorer results in cognitive tests. Other studies have demonstrated that low testosterone is linked to Alzheimer's disease, but it is still unclear whether the drop in testosterone levels lead to the disease or are a result of the disease process.

Good nutrition + regular exercise = fitness over 50

Regular exercise, along with changes in diet and lifestyle, are crucial to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight (and therefore a healthy production of testosterone) in middle aged men. In addition to promoting weight loss, regular exercise has been repeatedly proven to dramatically lower most major health risks and to increase energy, alertness, and libido.