America is a country on the move-literally, in unprecedented numbers, people of all ages are running, walking, swimming, skilling and otherwise exercising their way to better health. According to the latest figures, 59 percent of American adults exercise regularly - up 12 percent from just two years ago and more than double the figure of 25 years ago. Evan non-exercisers believe they would be more attractive and self-assured if they were more active.
Exercise as a routine part of daily life did not catch on until the late 1960s when research by military doctors began to show the health benefits of regular workouts.
The focus on fitness also has encourage Americans to adopt a healthier lifestyle in general. "One of the biggest advantage of the exercised boom is that it's making people much more aware of the need to use their bodies and make the most of what they have," says Dr. Paul Taylor, a fitness expert in Washington, D.C.
Is there any end in sight to the fitness fever? No, say experts, merchandisers, and specialist alike. Exercise enthusiasts agree that fitness is such an integral part of their lives that it will continue in some from right into old age. As one Oregon jogger noted, when he and his friends are "too old and too beat" to run marathons any longer, they'll still be out there-walking.