Some people want to build up their strength and spend many hours in the gym trying to build up their muscles. Many more just want a toned body so they will look good in the latest fashions. It has meant that fitness centres have become increasingly popular. They are places where people can go to follow a fitness programme under the watchful eye of instructors if required. People may lift weights to develop muscles or walk treadmills to keep their weight under control before relaxing in pools and saunas and enjoying meeting friends over a coffee in refreshment areas. What they cannot expect, however, is that this exercise will do the job by itself. It cannot be a justification for an unhealthy diet.

We exercise for a variety of reasons – weight loss, to build muscle tone, to increase strength, to strengthen our heart, to prepare for a sport, etc. Most of us over the age of 50 exercise to improve our health and fitness. This usually includes most of the things I just listed.