A younger adult may be perplexed when asked about the history of aerobics. After all, aerobic exercise has always been popular among people under the age of 50. If you ask someone over 50 the same question, they might guess the aerobics craze started with actress Jane Fonda, creator of the popular “Jane Fonda’s Workout” series, which debuted in 1982 and became one of the best-selling VHS tapes of all time.
However, the concept of aerobics — a system of physical conditioning that improves heart health, increases endurance, and reduces body fat — was actually pioneered in the 1960s by Dr. Kenneth Cooper, a physician and preventive medicine expert. He also coined the term when his 1968 book “Aerobics” was published.
Cooper was initially punished for encouraging exercise.
“Exercise was regarded as dangerous in the 1950s and 1960s,” Cooper explained. “I was told the world will now be full of dead joggers. I got lots of tremendous criticism in the early years.”
Dr. Kenneth Cooper pioneered the concept of aerobics in the 1960s. At 92, Cooper is still working to encourage people to become physically fit.Courtesy Dr. Kenneth Cooper
That opinion soon changed. Today, Cooper — now 92 — is still hard at work trying to encourage people to become physically fit. He’s head of the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas, which he founded in 1970. The center is made up of six health and wellness companies, including a clinic, and The Cooper Institute, a nonprofit research and education center.
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Cooper is also creator of the 12-minute run and FitnessGram PACER tests, which measure aerobic capacity and fitness. Millions around the globe have taken these assessments, often during a school gym class.
What’s more, the fitness fanatic has authored more than a dozen books in addition to “Aerobics,” was the driving force behind a 20,000-person study showing increased fitness is associated with lowered instances of dementia, and has received a raft of awards and recognition for his lifetime achievements.
Cooper recently shared his thoughts with CNN on global fitness and health in the 21st century.
