Physical Inactivity - Age 65+ in United States

United States

Physical inactivity, or living a sedentary lifestyle, can increase the risk of negative health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and cancer mortality, Type 2 diabetes and premature death. Increasing physical activity, meanwhile, has been found to reduce mortality from all causes and can prevent or delay the onset of many chronic diseases. 

Older adults tend to be more sedentary than younger people, increasing their susceptibility to diseases associated with physical inactivity. Certain older adults, keeping in mind individual factors like disabilities or chronic health conditions, should engage in exercises within their physical limitations. Around 10% of deaths among adults ages 40-69 and 8% of deaths among adults age 70 and older can be attributed to physical inactivity. 

Costs associated with physical inactivity are estimated at $117 billion annually, accounting for more than 11% of total health care expenditures in the United States

According to America’s Health Rankings analysis, the prevalence of physical inactivity is higher among:

• Older women compared with older men.
• Hispanic older adults and non-Hispanic Black older adults compared with non-Hispanic Asian and white older adults.
• Older adults with less than a high school education, who have a prevalence nearly three times that of college graduates; the prevalence is lower with each increase in education level. 
• Older adults with an annual household income less than $25,000, who have a prevalence more than twice that of those making $75,000 or more annually; the prevalence is lower with each increase in income level. 
• Older adults living in non-metropolitan areas compared with those in metropolitan areas.
• Older adults who have difficulty with self-care compared with those without a disability.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults age 65 and older incorporate at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity into their weekly routines (e.g., 30 minutes a day, five days each week). Evidence-based programs recommended by the National Council on Aging include EnhanceFitness and Healthy Moves for Aging Well. Additionally, the Active Choices program offers tailored programming for older adults in the comfort of their own homes.

At the organizational level, strategies to increase physical activity may involve investing in the built environment. For example, increasing neighborhood walkability can promote healthy weight and active lifestyles in a community. Neighborhood walkability can be assessed and improved using the Active Communities tool. Other cost-effective approaches recommended by the Community Preventive Services Task Force focus on enhancing access to parks, trails and greenways, as well as increasing structured programing and community engagement.

Healthy People 2030 has several goals related to physical activity, including: 

• Reducing the proportion of adults who do no physical activity in their free time.
• Increasing the proportion of older adults with physical or cognitive health problems who get physical activity.

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