Health: Fifty-Plus Lifelong Fitness Annual Weekend Slated

Events Emphasize Senior Fitness and Fighting Obesity

Stanford, Calif. - February 20, 2004 - Fifty-Plus Lifelong Fitness (formerly Fifty-Plus Fitness Association) will tackle the challenging issue of obesity by providing both education and action at the 21st Annual Fifty-Plus Fitness Weekend, March 12-14 in Palo Alto, California. A packed calendar of vital health and fitness-related activities geared toward individuals age 50 and over will address the theme of "How to Stay Fit and Healthy in an Obese America." All of the weekend's activities take place on the beautiful Stanford University campus.

Activities include the organization's signature 8-kilometer run, popular health conference featuring presentations by noted health and fitness authorities, an awards banquet recognizing leaders in the area of fitness for senior adults, a free health fair, plus an impressive slate of companion sporting and fitness events for all ages. In addition, television and radio personality Art Linkletter, 91, will appear at a free public forum hosted by Fifty-Plus at Stanford's Dinkelspiel Auditorium on Friday, March 12, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Information, online registration, and a downloadable brochure for the Fifty-Plus Annual Weekend are available from the Fifty-Plus web site at www.50Plus.org, or via the event's telephone hotline, (650) 843-1754.

Recent studies completed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other groups, reveal that over 60 percent of U.S. adults are overweight. One-third of adults are obese. Growing evidence illustrates that a lack of exercise is a major contributor to obesity. Forty percent of American adults report that they do not exercise at all.

"Obesity correlates inversely with movement, and growing old with fervor means movement," said Dr. Walter Bortz, the Chairman of Fifty-Plus and an acclaimed authority on healthy aging. "The mission of Fifty-Plus is to keep people moving. And we are about independence and engagement. If you're obese and you're in a nursing home, you're not fully engaged. You're dependent."

According to Steven Blair, Ph.D., and President and CEO of the Cooper Institute in Dallas, physical inactivity poses the biggest public health problem of the 21st century.

"Physical inactivity is now well established as an important cause of coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, loss of functional capacity, and other health conditions," Blair said.

Blair will present a keynote address on this topic at the Fifty-Plus Health Conference (Saturday, March 13). Additionally, medical authorities will speak about technology, nutrition, impulsive habits, and the media and how they impact obesity. Breakout sessions will focus on everyday exercises for successful aging.

Seats are selling out fast for Saturday evening's Fifty-Plus awards and recognition dinner at the Sheraton Palo Alto Hotel where the organization will announce the recipient of the prestigious Emil Zatopek Award. Fifty-Plus created the annual award in 1991 to recognize individuals who have attained notable achievements in sports, and in doing so have inspired others to live a fit and active lifestyle. The Emil Zatopek Award is named after the great Czechoslovakian distance runner who won three gold medals (5,000 meters, 10,000 meters, and marathon) at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki. Last year, 1960 Olympic swimmer and noted sports organizer Anne Cribbs became the thirteenth recipient of the coveted award. Cribbs now serves as Managing Director of Fifty-Plus Lifelong Fitness.

Stanford Stadium serves as "point central" for the Fifty-Plus Weekend's array of organized fitness events on Sunday, March 14. The events are anchored by the Paul Spangler Memorial 8-Kilometer Race, the premier road running race for senior runners (ages 50 and over) in the world. The USA Track & Field-certified course is a flat and fast loop around the scenic Stanford University campus. The Olympic-style finish on the track inside Stanford Stadium is, alone, worth the approximately five-mile effort it takes to get there.

Numerous U.S. records by senior athletes have been set in the event. The women's race record of 28 minutes and 58 seconds (5:50 per mile pace) was set in 1991 by multiple U.S. age-group record holder Shirley Matson, one of the most dominant senior runners of all time. Sal Vasquez holds the equally impressive men's race record of 26:05 recorded in 1990.

Other fitness events include a 4-mile fitness walk, 15-mile bicycle ride, competitive 5-kilometer race walk, and free multi-generation relays. The 8K run and 5K racewalk are restricted to entrants age 50 and over. Other events are open to all ages. A free health fair inside Stanford Stadium -- which links mature and active men and women and their families with health products, services, and organizations in the community that promote healthy living -- is open from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Refreshments and entertainment are also provided.

EVENT ENTRY: Entry forms for all of the Fifty-Plus events can be obtained by contacting the Fifty-Plus Fitness Association Hot Line: (650) 843-1754, E-mail: info@50plus.org, or by visiting the Fifty-Plus Web site at www.50plus.org.. Online race registration is available at www.active.com.

Fifty-Plus Lifelong Fitness is a non-profit, international organization based in Palo Alto, Calif., with 2,000 members, whose mission is to provide a longer and more independent lifestyle for adults by expanding awareness and involvement in health and fitness activities.

Thanks to our major sponsors, who help make the Fifty-Plus Fitness Weekend possible: Brookdale Exceptional Senior Living, City of Palo Alto Recreation, Health Net, Classic Residence by Hyatt, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Palo Alto Weekly, Kaiser Permanente, Sheraton Palo Alto Hotel, and Cardinal Hotel.