Amount and intensity of physical activity of older adults aged 65 years and above

Why do we study physical activity in older adults aged 65 and over?

• All older adults should engage in regular physical activity, as it provides significant health benefits. In this population, physical activity helps reduce overall mortality, improves cardiovascular health, lowers the risk of cancer and type-2 diabetes, enhances mental health, cognitive function, and sleep, and reduces adiposity. Moreover, it helps prevent falls, injuries, and declines in bone health and functional ability.
• Older adults are also encouraged to engage in muscle-strengthening and multicomponent activities that focus on balance and strength, at moderate or higher intensity, at least 2-3 days per week. These activities are essential for improving health and preventing falls.
• The WHO recommends older adults to engage in 150–300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75–150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week, with the option of exceeding these levels for additional health benefits. 
• Studying physical (in)activity in older adults is crucial for understanding its health benefits and guiding policymakers to develop strategies that promote physical activity, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and enhances the quality of life for aging populations.

How do we do it?

• Physical activity of adults was examined by the long version of the self-report International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), specifically adapted for old adults. This questionnaire is used to assess the intensity, frequency, and duration of physical activity in different situations (transportation, leisure, work, and household/garden), as well as general physical activity levels.
• The IPAQ, adapted for older adults, measures three types of physical activity: walking (at low, moderate, and high pace), moderate, and vigorous physical activity:
  • walking is evaluated during work (e.g., voluntary work), transportation, and leisure time. Secondly, the walking pace was assessed: low, moderate or high. Moderate and high walking pace is included in the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity level ;
  • moderate physical activity refers to activities such as cycling and yard work. They were described to respondents as “a moderate physical exertion that makes you breathe slightly faster and deeper than normal.”
  • vigorous physical activity include high-intensity activities such as jogging, mountain biking, moving furniture. They were described as “a heavy physical exertion that makes you breathe much faster and deeper than normal.”
• Although questionnaires are valuable tools, people often overestimate their physical activity due to difficulty in judging physical activity intensity, forgetfulness, or the desire to provide socially acceptable answers. These limitations signify that these results are best suited for comparing groups (e.g., by sex, age, or socio-economic status) rather than for drawing absolute conclusions.