Physical activity in the second half of life—current situation in Switzerland

Over the past several decades, there has been a gradually growing awareness among health care professionals and policy makers of the impact of physical activity (PA) in the second half of life. Implementation of PA recommendations among the most inactive members in the community aged 50+ has been the subject of considerable discussion in Switzerland. A vital step towards promoting good exercise habits in populations is to describe the current PA behavior of both the sedentary and physically active. According to previous findings about PA behavior (sports, exercise, habitual PA) in the Swiss population aged 50+ and associated sociodemographic variables, health status, and health orientation, habitual PA seems to have the greatest potential for increasing overall guideline-compliant activity levels. The findings suggest a behavioral/cognitive and political/environmental approach to improving PA. Nevertheless, since the findings were obtained from cross-sectional analyses, the information provided has to be considered with reservation. PA promotion campaigns targeting the 50+ age groups can be rendered more effective if relevant information (such as current and previous lifestyles that also have impact on PA behavior in the second half of life) can be gathered through data-differentiated multi-item cross-sectional studies and/or cohort studie

Physical activity of adults aged 50years and older in Switzerland

Summary.: 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 suggeste

Physical activity of adults aged 50 years and older in Switzerland

ISSN:0303-8408ISSN:1420-911