"So I've broadened the fitness concept to make it one of moderation and balance." -- Kenneth H. Cooper
Kenneth H. Cooper (born 1931) is an M.D. and former Air Force Colonel from Oklahoma, who introduced the concept of aerobics. Cooper is the author of a 1968 book Aerobics which emphasized a point system for improving the cardiovascular system. The popular mass market version was The New Aerobics (ISBN 0-553-26874-0), published a few years later. His points system is also the basis of the 10,000 steps per day method of maintaining adequate fitness by walking.
In his Air Force career, Cooper had devised a simple test (the Cooper test, originally the distance run in 12 minutes) which correlated quite well with VO2max, and so could conveniently be used to quickly establish the fitness level of large numbers of people.
Cooper is the founder of the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas and McKinney, Texas[1]. He is also the founder of the non-profit research and education organization, The Cooper Institute, which was opened in 1970. Today, he leads 10 health companies and The Cooper Institute. Dr. Cooper also heads the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas, as well as a second center at Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, the site of CooperLife, a health and wellness residential community.[2]
Complete List of Books by Kenneth H. Cooper:
Start Strong, Finish Strong (2007)
Matters of the Heart: Adventures in Sports Medicine (2007)
Controlling Cholesterol the Natural Way Eat Your Way to Better Health With New Breakthrough Food
Discoveries (1999)
Regaining the Power of Youth at Any Age (1998)
Advanced Nutritional Therapies (1998)
Can Stress Heal? Converting A Major Health Hazard Into A Surprising Health Benefit (1998)
Antioxidant Revolution (1997)
Faith-based Fitness The Medical Program That Uses Spiritual Motivation To Achieve Maximum Health And *Add Years To Your Life (1997)
Its Better To Believe (1995)
Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper's Antioxidant Revolution (1994)
Kid Fitness : a Complete Shape-up Program From Birth Through High School (1991)
Overcoming Hypertension : Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper's Preventive Medicine Program (1990)
Reducing Cholesterol: A Heart-Smart Guide to Low-Fat Eating (No Nonsense Health Guide) (1989)
Controlling Cholesterol: Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper's Preventative Medicine Program (1989)
Preventing Osteoporosis : Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper's Preventive Medicine Program (1989)
The New Aerobics for Women (1988)
Running Without Fear (1986)
Aerobics Program (1985)
The Aerobics Program for Total Well-being : Exercise, Diet, Emotional Balance (1982, 1983)
Aerobics for Women (1982)
The Aerobics Way: New Data on the World's Most Popular Exercise Program (1978)
Aerobics (1968)
Also:
Fitness for Life, 6 Audio Cassettes (1983)
The New Aerobics (1979)
Run for Your Life: Aerobic Conditioning for Your Heart (1974)
"According to the Gallup Poll, 24 percent of American adults exercised regularly in 1961, and 50 percent after 1968. The peak was 59 percent in 1984, dropping off to 51 percent last September.""Aerobic dancing is already adjusting to injury problems and will probably phase out to some extent.""After 26 years, I am still practicing what I preach.""Far too many times over the next 12 to 15 years, it was brought to my attention that people who followed my exercise guidelines exactly but ignored their diet, their weight and their cigarette smoking had heart attacks at age 55.""I don't criticize weight training - as long as it is not a substitute for aerobic training.""I have not missed a day from work because of illness since 1956.""I think investments in general related to the exercise industry are going to be good for a long time.""I used to think that it didn't make any difference how far you ran if you had a good, strong musculoskeletal system and no underlying cardiovascular problems.""If you look at body fat, it seems to increase with age, even though your weight does not. That's a physiological fact of aging, they say. Heck it is. It is an adaptive effect of aging.""Now I say that if you run more than 15 miles a week, it's for something other than aerobic fitness. Once you pass 15 miles, you do not see much further improvement.""Over the years, I've covered 22,000 miles.""Since then, I have not missed five consecutive days in getting some type of aerobic exercise, mostly jogging.""The reason I exercise is for the quality of life I enjoy.""There are six components of wellness: proper weight and diet, proper exercise, breaking the smoking habit, control of alcohol, stress management and periodic exams.""We are involved in youth testing internationally. We want to try to prove without a shadow of a doubt the relationship between physical fitness and health, not just physical fitness and ability to perform.""You have to run 75 to 100 miles a week if you expect to break the four-minute mile."