Move for life: how NEAT habits keep people fit after 60 without workouts

A VegOut piece highlights non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) as the key to staying fit after 60 without formal workouts. It outlines ten daily habits—cooking, home upkeep, gardening, walking for transport, using stairs, carrying objects, standing rather than sitting, active social life, doing errands, and having a purpose that requires movement—that weave movement into everyday life. Based on Mayo Clinic researcher James Levine’s NEAT findings, these small, consistent activities can dramatically raise daily energy expenditure (potentially up to ~2,000 extra calories) and explain why some older adults stay healthier than younger gym-goers. The message: build a life that moves, not a separate exercise plan.