Professor Jeong Heewon: "Create an Exercise Portfolio in Your Early 70s to Walk Until 100"

Hankyung Association Jeju Summer Forum Lecture
"Aerobic Exercise to the Point of Sweating
At Least 3 Times a Week, 30 Minutes or More a Day"

"If you create an exercise portfolio that you can do for life until your early 70s and practice it every morning and evening, you will definitely be able to walk until 100 years old."

Professor Jeong Heewon of the Geriatrics Department at Seoul Asan Medical Center made this statement on the 12th during a lecture at the '2024 Hankyung CEO Jeju Summer Forum' held by the Korea Economic Leaders Association at Lotte Hotel Jeju in Seogwipo, Jeju.

Professor Jeong's forum topic was "Slow Aging and Lifestyle for a Successful Career."

Professor Jeong pointed out that walking alone is insufficient to maintain health. He emphasized the need to consistently engage in aerobic exercise intense enough to cause sweating.

He said, "Walk as much as possible every day, and do aerobic exercise that makes you sweat for at least 150 minutes per week, at least three times a week, with sessions longer than 30 minutes each. You must also do full-body strength training at least twice a week and perform bodyweight core exercises."

Professor Jeong stated that if necessary, one should invest money to properly build an exercise portfolio. He claimed that spending about 500,000 to 600,000 KRW per month is required.

He said, "(Professor Kim Hyungseok of Yonsei University, who is over 100 years old) said, 'People do not age while they are growing. Continuing to study and keeping emotions youthful is also important,' and I would like to add to this the creation of a lifelong exercise portfolio."

He also emphasized the importance of sleep. Sleeping only four and a half hours causes the stress hormone 'cortisol' to increase by 10 to 100 times. He warned that cortisol can literally "melt" the brain.

Professor Jeong warned, "Stress hormones reduce the function of the prefrontal cortex, weakening judgment and cognitive functions. (In severe cases) the hippocampus shrinks, leading to memory loss similar to dementia patients."

He also mentioned that if alcohol consumption is not reduced, 'accelerated aging' can occur, meaning the more you drink, the faster you age. Professor Jeong said, "Decision-making driven by the pursuit of pleasure can cause accelerated aging."