“Middle-Aged At 26”

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28536, 15 March 1958, Page 10

“Middle-Aged At 26”

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) CHAMPAIGN, (Illinois), March 1. Middle age begins at L in the United States, Professor Thomas K. Cureton Jr. of the University of Illinois believes, according to the “New York Times.” Professor Cureton, a member of the university physical education faculty and a prominent figure in physical fitness circles, said at a conference this week at the university: “Hothouse apartment life unvaried by outdoor activities, will surely lead to a relatively early physical deterioration.” He advocated a “positive programme” of adult physical education that would include walking, running, skating, ski-ing, dancing, canoeing, rowing, climbing and cross-country hiking. He said that health studies by the armed services had shown “large numbers of young men are entering adult life unmotivated or conditioned' to meet stress or strain, or to maintain physical fitness. “1. e curves of various fitness and physical abilities begin to decline prematurely after 26 years of age,” he continued. “Middle age may be defined as the point at which these curves turn downward.”