Document Detail


Physical activity of adults aged 50 years and older in Switzerland.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16167506     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: This study explores the prevalence of guideline-compliant physical activity (PA) behavior based on socio-demographic, health-related and environmental variables. METHODS: Cross-sectional data of the Swiss Health Survey 2002 were used in a Swiss population segment aged 50+. Four categories of PA were created with respect to Swiss and US guidelines: "moderate sports/exercise", "vigorous sports/exercise", "habitual PA", and "optimal PA" (i.e. combined variable used when both "vigorous sports/exercise" and "habitual PA" apply). Sedentary lifestyle was a fifth category. RESULTS: In the total sample considered for analysis (N = 8405) the prevalence of guideline-compliant PA was: 9.1% moderate sports/exercise; 18.2% vigorous sports/exercise; 45% habitual PA; 8.7% optimal PA. Almost 50% of the age groups 65-79 and 80+ were involved in habitual PA. Higher socio-economic status was associated with involvement in moderate sports/exercise, vigorous sports/exercise, or optimal PA. In contrast, lower socioeconomic status was associated with habitual PA. While living in an urban or rural environment had no differentiating effect on sports/exercise, living in rural areas was associated with a sedentary lifestyle and little involvement in habitual PA and/or optimal PA. Self-reported good health and/or health orientation were associated with vigorous sports/exercise, habitual PA and optimal PA, regardless of whether the person had chronic health problems or not. CONCLUSION: Habitual PA seems to have the greatest potential for increasing overall guideline-compliant activity levels. A behavioral/cognitive and political/environmental approach to improving PA is suggested.
Authors:
Katharina Meyer; Linda Rezny; Christoph Breuer; Markus Lamprecht; Hans Peter Stamm
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Sozial- und Präventivmedizin     Volume:  50     ISSN:  0303-8408     ISO Abbreviation:  Soz Praventivmed     Publication Date:  2005  
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2005-09-19     Completed Date:  2005-12-23     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7502479     Medline TA:  Soz Praventivmed     Country:  Switzerland    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  218-29     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Swiss Health Observatory Neuchâtel, Switzerland. meyer.katharina@bluewin.ch
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging / psychology*
Body Mass Index
Cross-Sectional Studies
Exercise / psychology*
Female
Guideline Adherence / statistics & numerical data
Health Status
Health Surveys
Humans
Incidence
Life Style
Male
Middle Aged
Physical Fitness / psychology
Social Environment
Social Support
Socioeconomic Factors
Switzerland

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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