Elderly exercise: hold the Spandex, hide the hard bodies
When it comes to exercise, the elderly definitely don’t like to follow the pack. Rather than mingle with youthful hard bodies at the gym, seniors prefer fitness routines that are performed alone, sometimes with a trainer.
That’s the outcome of a new study by the University of British Columbia in Canada that urges seniors be afforded the right exercise setting to encourage greater participation – and better health.
“A growing body of evidence suggests that a far greater proportion of people actually prefer to exercise alone with some instruction, rather than in a class,” said researcher Mark Beauchamp, of the University’s School of Human Kinetics.
Mr Beauchamp said researchers found that people of all ages generally preferred to exercise with people their own age, or to simply exercise alone. He added that the elderly were especially put off by what he characterised as ‘the Spandex-clad ideal’ prevalent in some exercise settings.
The conclusion was derived from a study of the behaviours of 947 people, ranging in age from 30 to 92, in the northern English city of Leeds.
Researchers found that exercisers were increasingly bothered by younger, more outwardly fit individuals in their gym or similar exercise environment. This wasn’t a factor for those in their 30s and 40s, but those over age 50 became increasingly uneasy with the situation.
Interestingly, when people in their 60s and 70s were asked about exercising with those their same age, they reacted positively, but those in the other age groups were more negative about that prospect.
“All this study highlights is older adults can exercise in environments that are socially supportive, when given the right setting,” Mr Beauchamp said.
