Seniors should step up their fitness
A new study shows that most seniors do not get enough exercise, regardless of their incomes, education and postcode.
Ways to keep physically active include gentle swimming, social tennis, golf or walking.
The National Seniors’ report How physically active are senior Australians?, written by Dr Tim Adair, surveyed a total of 4,371 people aged over 50. Only 15 per cent met the threshold of an average of 10,000 steps a day, when physical activity was measured using a pedometer.
People aged over 50 on higher incomes, with post-year 12 qualifications and who live in major cities, are more likely to get enough exercise compared to those who were less educated, on lower incomes, and those from regional and country areas.
“Age, location, education, household income and health status do influence the amount of exercise older
people get,” says National Seniors chief executive Michael O’Neill.
When study participants were asked to report their level of physical activity, results showed that 38 per cent of senior Australians were sufficiently active to gain health benefits (in line with national guidelines), 36 per cent were insufficiently active and 26 per cent were inactive.
“Staying physically active has been shown to reduce cardiovascular disease, dementia and mental illness. But perhaps what is less obvious is the benefit to society from savings on health care costs for our ageing population,” Mr O’Neill says.
“It’s in the interests of governments, families and society in general to encourage older people to get some regular exercise or to step up their fitness to the next level. And older people – particularly those living in rural and regional areas – could improve their health and quality of life if they improved their fitness,” says Mr O’Neill.
Ways for to keep physically active include:
- Join a hiking/walking group or swimming club
- Jogging, cycling, aerobic, competitive tennis
- Vigorous gardening (or heavy work that causes a person to breathe hard)
- Strength and toning exercises (e.g. lifting weights, push ups, sit ups)
- Gentle swimming, social tennis, golf, walking for transport (less strenuous)
