Rants and Ramblings: random commentary about culture, media, politics, technology and whatnot.

boomeritis

The New York Times ran a story earlier this week urging retiring baby boomers to stay (or become) physically active, or else risk falling prey to the health risks that come with a slow, sedentary lifestyle, a condition it calls “boomeritis.”

Still not convinced you need to work on your fitness? See how you do on the therapists’ quiz:

• Are you not standing as straight and tall as you once did?
  [I’m a bad sloucher, particularly over a computer. But not moreso than usual.]
• Is walking up a flight of stairs a strain at times?
  [Huff, puff.]
• Are you getting up from a chair more slowly than you used to?
  [No.]
• Is it getting harder to look to the left and right while backing up?
  [No. But it’s difficult anyway.]
• Do you get stiff sitting through a long movie?
  [I believe that’s called “theatre ass.”]
• Is standing on one leg to put on your shoe difficult or impossible?
  [Yes, but I’m a horrible klutz.]
• Do you trip or lose your balance more easily?
  [See above.]
• Does walking or jogging a distance take longer than it used to?
  [Longer than when? High school? Then yes.]

(New York Times: “To Avoid ‘Boomeritis,’ Exercise, Exercise, Exercise” - 12/19/2006)

Oh, dear lord … If my answers to some of these questions are any indication, I think I’m suffering from boomeritis — and I’m just 27.