Kenneth H. Cooper

If you look at body fat, it seems to increase with age, even though your weight does not. That's a physiological fact of aging, they say. Heck it is. It is an adaptive effect of aging.

The reason I exercise is for the quality of life I enjoy.

We are involved in youth testing internationally. We want to try to prove without a shadow of a doubt the relationship between physical fitness and health, not just physical fitness and ability to perform.

There are six components of wellness: proper weight and diet, proper exercise, breaking the smoking habit, control of alcohol, stress management and periodic exams.

So I've broadened the fitness concept to make it one of moderation and balance.

Since then, I have not missed five consecutive days in getting some type of aerobic exercise, mostly jogging.

Now I say that if you run more than 15 miles a week, it's for something other than aerobic fitness. Once you pass 15 miles, you do not see much further improvement.

I don't criticize weight training - as long as it is not a substitute for aerobic training.

I think investments in general related to the exercise industry are going to be good for a long time.

Far too many times over the next 12 to 15 years, it was brought to my attention that people who followed my exercise guidelines exactly but ignored their diet, their weight and their cigarette smoking had heart attacks at age 55.

I used to think that it didn't make any difference how far you ran if you had a good, strong musculoskeletal system and no underlying cardiovascular problems.

I have not missed a day from work because of illness since 1956.