The same old story.

In the Summer/Fall 2005 issue of the Journal, my editorial ("They're Baaack!!!") discussed a new presentation of the old anti-exercise myth: an article written by Gina Kolata for the April 17, 2005 issue of The New York Times "News of the Week in Review." Based on selected interviews (none with any of the authorities who study regular exercise and its effects), Kolata concluded that "there are real limits to what can be done to reverse the damage caused by a lifetime of unhealthy living." To demonstrate how far back in time this anti-exercise mythology goes (not back to the Greeks, of course; they loved the stuff), I also discussed a book published in the mid-80s entitled The Exercise Myth. It presented the same argument.

Subsequently Paul Kiell, MD, the long-time editor of this journal, sent me an article of his: "Preaching the Gospel of Anti-Fitness," published in the May 1981 issue of Running Times. I have decided to share Dr. Kiell's work with you. In his elegant prose he discusses, among other things, an anti-exercise book that came out in 1980 that used the same arguments against exercise as are being made now, carrying the same holes that sank them then as sink them now. More importantly, Dr. Kiell's case for the benefits of regular exercise is just as valid today as it was then, but with much more data supporting that case now than then. I think that reading Paul's essay is a most enjoyable excursion into history. I hope that you agree.

Respectfully yours,

Steven Jonas

P.S. Please also see the article by J.D. McPhail on page 9.