People who exercise as teens visit their doctor less in their 70s Men who played sport at school are most likely to exercise in old age Those in their 70s who played sport at school visit their doctor fewer times each year than those who didn't People who play sport at school are more likely to be healthy in old age, new research suggests. Experts found men in their 70s who took part in school sports visit their doctor less than those who were more sedentary. They also found that men who exercised as teenagers are more likely to be active in old age. The best predictor of whether an elderly man exercises is whether he played sport at school - those who exercise in their teens are more likely to be active in old age Researchers at Cornell Universityâ€™s Food and Brand Lab, in the U.S., and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, in Zurich, tracked 712 Second World War veterans who were healthy as young men. In their study, â€˜Fit in 50 Yearsâ€™, which was published in BMC Public Health, they found the men who had played team sports in the 1930s and 1940s visited their doctor fewer times each year when they were in their 70s than those who did not. They also discovered that the best predictor of whether an elderly man exercises is whether he played sport at school. The researchers say the results highlight the need to encourage todayâ€™s children to exercise. They say young people who are inactive are more likely to be obese and to suffer from mental and physical health problems. They added that the results of their study suggest inactivity in childhood could have life-long consequences. The research comes just after it was revealed that children today are not as fit as their parents were. Men in their 70s who played sport when they were at school visit their doctor fewer times each year than those who did not get involved in school sports Researchers at the University of South Australia's School of Health Sciences found today's children have a cardiovascular fitness 15 per cent lower than their parents did at the same age. They also found today's children would run a mile about 90 seconds slower than children 30 years ago could. Researchers found children's cardiovascular fitness is declining worldwide, and the decline in running fitness may indicate worse health in adulthood. The main reason is an increase in body fat. Lead author Dr Grant Tomkinson said: â€˜If a young person is generally unfit now, then they are more likely to develop conditions like heart disease later in life.â€™