Friday, April 08, 2011
(graphic: letgeniushappen.com
Shopping is good for you, if you’re elderly. That’s the conclusion reached by researchers in Taiwan who found that “retail therapy” can improve the lives of senior citizens.
Getting out to stores means more walking, a low-impact exercise that can increase circulation and strengthen the cardiovascular system, according to the study. Experts also pointed out that shopping can keep older people from feeling isolated, and instead be more engaged with others in their community.
The researchers also speculated that frequent shoppers were more likely to buy fresh, healthier foods.
Men were found to benefit more from retail therapy than women, while overall those who shopped once a day were 27% less likely to die than those who rarely went to stores.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
‘Retail Therapy’ Might Really Work (by Amanda Gardner, HealthDay)
Shopping Trips 'Help People Live Longer' (by Tim Locke, WebMD)
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