Is there a way to turn back the clock on your age? A new study says yes. Exercise can make you look younger. At least it can lower your fitness age — that is the measure of how well your body works.
A study of athletes in the National Senior Games found that their fitness age was more than 20 years younger than their chronological age. The games took place in the Midwestern state of Minnesota. Tony Diamond took part in the games. Every morning he went to a local park and walked fast for an hour. Then, the retired navy captain ran for an hour. Two or three times a week, he went to a gym for muscle（肌肉）training. Mr. Diamond won three medals at the 2015 National Senior Games.
"My current age is 86 years old, and my fitness age is 44. I think I am in such good physical condition because I do a lot of exercise during my life. I have been exercising since I was a little boy," said Mr. Diamond.
"I'm 62 years old and my fitness results showed that I was 32 years," said Ms White.
Ms. White and Mr. Diamond are some of the 5, 000 Senior Games participants who took part in the fitness age study.
Pamela Peeke was an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Maryland. She worked on the study with Ulrik Wisloff at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Mr Wisloff developed a fitness calculator.
An online calculator is available for anyone to use for free. Ms. Peeke says there are benefits from attending this test.
The National Senior Games take place every two years. They are the competition for athletes older than 50. The games include a variety of sports.
This year the average age of the people competing was 68. But their average fitness age was 43.
