From CBN News
Dr. Kenneth Cooper is known as the “Father of Aerobics’ who created the foundation for fitness that’s still going strong today, like his devout faith.
“I praise the Lord every day and I give him credit for everything I’ve achieved,” the 94-year-old told CBN News.
His exercise program has been shown to help prevent numerous medical issues, including heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s, as well as mental health issues like depression and anxiety.
But initially it was hard work convincing medical professionals of its benefits.
WHAT IS AEROBIC EXERCISE?
Aerobic exercise is any activity that causes our heart rate to increase, providing much-needed oxygen to our cells.
Doctors recommend at least two and a half hours a week, despite once believing an aerobics program could lead to an early grave.
Dr. Cooper conducted major research on the exercise, recommending it to ordinary people, which drew a fierce backlash.
But ultimately, he proved the sceptics wrong.
“BODY’S ABILITY TO USE LARGE AMOUNTS OF OXYGEN IS KEY TO PHYSICAL FITNESS”
He recalled to CBN News that as a young Air Force doctor receiving divine guidance to introduce what was considered at the time, a strange new concept.
“I frequently used the word ‘aerobics,’ which literally means ‘with air’ or ‘with oxygen.’
“The ability of the body to utilise large amounts of oxygen is the real secret to physical fitness,” he explained to a group of doctors in the 1960s.
At that time, Dr. Cooper had no idea aerobics would become a global phenomenon and improve health outcomes for millions worldwide.
DR COOPER’S LATEST BOOK CHRONICLES THE SUCCESS OF AEROBICS
He’s just released his 20th book: Grow Healthier as You Grow Older by the Father of Aerobics: How a Life Devoted to Preventive Medicine Fostered the Global Fitness Revolution.
In regards to keeping fit and healthy, he reflected that: “The government’s not going to do it for you. The insurance company’s not going to do it for you.”
“It’s what you do for yourself, because no drug can replicate the benefits of an active lifestyle.”
“That’s my hope and prayer for all the people.”
DR COOPER STILL WORKS OUT DAILY AT AGE OF 94
Dr. Cooper still exercises 30 minutes a day and works 40 hours a week at his Cooper Clinic in Dallas, Texas.
It helps patients live about ten years longer than the national average.
“If I die tomorrow, I’ve had a wonderful life,” he told CBN News..
“I know where I’m going. I’d have no regret.”
HOW HIS FITNESS REVOLUTION BEGAN
Back in the 1950s, Dr. Cooper made his radical discovery after having lived a sedentary life and gaining 20 kilograms.
“I got into Medical School and learned a very important point, that obesity is the most common manifestation of stress,” he revealed.
A day of waterskiing with friends caused him to suffer chest pains and a racing heart.
“The next day, I was evaluated thoroughly at the School of Aerospace Medicine in San Antonio.”
“I was hypertensive, I was pre-diabetic,” he recalled.
HOW DR COOPER TURNED AROUND HIS OWN HEALTH
Dr. Cooper put himself on an aerobics program and, within months, saw a complete turnaround in his own health.
He realised he needed to share this concept with the world.
“I controlled the blood pressure, I controlled the diabetes by doing something, by changing my lifestyle,” he explained to CBN News.
“That was the divine intervention of my life because from then on I dedicated my life to the practice of preventive medicine.”
THE BOOK THAT DROVE MILLIONS TO AEROBICS
Dr. Cooper spent years researching the benefits of aerobics and in 1968, released his seminal work, Aerobics, which challenged the views of the mainstream medical community.
Back then, many doctors thought aerobic exercise would lead to an enlarged heart and early death.
“I was the target of criticism. ‘Street’s going to be full of dead joggers if people try to follow Cooper! Cooper’s going to kill more than Hitler did in World War Two!’”
“It was really vicious,” he recalled.
But he overcame the resistance and aerobics became a cornerstone of good health.
TIME AND AGAIN DR. COOPER SILENCED THE DOUBTERS
Dr. Cooper went on to consult NASA astronauts and Olympic athletes.
Still, he suffered more persecution after developing the treadmill stress test, a diagnostic tool to detect the early signs of coronary heart disease that is still widely used today.
“I was immediately jumped on by the medical society. ‘You’re going to kill people! You can’t exercise people to exhaustion!‘”
“I said: ‘I’ve been doing this for 10 years. It can be a very valuable tool, because remember, the most common first symptom of severe heart diseases is sudden death.”“
DR COOPER USES BIBLE VERSES TO SUPPORT HIS FITNESS ADVICE
There’s no telling how many lives Dr. Cooper touched through his medical work or his Christian outreach, such as his association with Billy Graham Crusades.
“I use Bible verses in my presentations all the time,” Dr. Cooper said.
“One of my favourites is Isaiah 40:31. ‘Those who wait upon the Lord can renew their strength. They can mount wings and soar like eagles, and they can run and not be weary, and walk and not faint.’”
Today’s doctors recommend their patients do aerobic exercise to help prevent heart disease, cancer, dementia, and more.
The man who started it all, at age 94 and still going strong, gives God all the glory.
“The Lord has had His hand on my life. That’s the reason I’m here today.”
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