How Do Physical Activity and Health Vary Among Younger, Middle-Aged, and Older Adults With and Without Disability?
in Journal of Aging and Physical ActivityBy purchasing this content you agree and accept the terms and conditions
Physical activity (PA) and health were compared in younger (YA; 18–44 years), middle-aged (MA; 45–64 years), and older (OA; ≥65 years) adults with disability (PWD), functional limitation (PFL), or without disability (PWoD). Disability occurred in YA (PWD: 2.3%; PFL: 14.3%), MA (PWD: 8.5%; PFL: 23.8%), and OA (PWD: 14.9%; PFL: 26.6%). Not meeting aerobic/muscle-strengthening PA recommendations was frequent in YA (PWD: 50.7%; PFL: 42.5%; PWoD: 35.8%), MA (PWD: 56.7%; PFL: 44.0%; PWoD: 35.6%), and OA (PWD: 57.8%; PFL: 44.1%; PWoD: 33.1%). Among PWD, YA and MA met muscle, strengthening recommendations more frequently than did OA; PFL did more aerobic PA than PWD. The presence of chronic diseases, female gender, White race, lower education, and less income were associated with being PWD or PFL. Those with greater PA were less likely to be PWD or PFL. Results suggest increasing public health efforts to promote healthy lifestyles in MA and OA.
Kamil-Rosenberg and Garber are with the Dept. of Biobehavioral Sciences, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY. Greaney is with the Dept. of Kinesiology, Health Studies, University of Rhode Island, Kington, RI. Hochman is with the Division of Biostatistics, Dept. of Population Health, Langone Medical Center, New York University, New York, NY.
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