“Father of Aerobics” at 94: Dr. Cooper’s Unrelenting Health Advocacy

Dr. Kenneth Cooper’s FitnessGram is on the ropes. President Trump recently reestablished the Presidential Fitness Test; over 10 years ago, the government replaced the test with Dr. Cooper’s FitnessGram, “the first student fitness report card.”

Dr. Cooper has a cautious reaction. “Whether they’re going to be using exactly as the test [in the new process] is not really known. I am delighted to see that they realize the importance of childhood fitness.” To him, it just makes sense to measure fitness levels to help inform schools and families about how to help children get healthier. “Why don’t they test fitness like they test the mind? Data drives decisions.”   

At 94, Dr. Cooper remains a passionate advocate for reshaping our national approach to health, particularly through the lens of prevention — a theme at the center of his new book, “Grow Healthier as You Grow Older.” He tells host Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter, “We’ve got to stop and spend the money for the prevention of disease, rather than waiting for too much care, too late.”

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