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Senior Citizens Least Likely to Exercise; They Fear
Injury
Women Baby Boomers are most like to turn to physical
exercise
May 5, 2005 – In a study of older adults, senior
citizens 56 and older were the least likely to turn to physical exercise
in their free time, while boomer age women were the most likely to turn
to exercise. The seniors fear injury or illness, say the researchers.
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Nov.
5, 2004 - A new study gives people in their 50s and 60s another reason
to get off the couch and be physically active — especially if they have
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More... 11/05/04*
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People who are successful at exercising regularly
don't stop to think about it--they really do, 'Just do it', according to
Dr. Sandra Cousins, professor of Physical Education and Recreation at
the University of Alberta.
In-depth interviews with 40 Alberta men and women
aged 42 to 77 revealed that those who exercise regularly don't employ
pep talks or think much about the pros or cons of participating.
"We used to think that positive self-talk was
important to promote individual exercise participation, but when it
comes to the general public, you don't need a pep talk. You need a plan.
If you have planned to meet a friend every Tuesday at 3 p.m. for a walk,
you will show up so you don't let them down," Dr. Cousins said.
The study's findings appear in the May, 2005
journal Psychology of Sport & Exercise.
While self-talk strategies occurred among 88 per
cent of those surveyed, a key strategy used by active people was to take
the less talk-more action route, and to stick to a plan for exercise.
"When something goes wrong with the plan, like bad weather, they adjust
for it. For the unmotivated exerciser, an obstacle becomes a good excuse
to do nothing. It's a mindset."
Of all the participants, boomer-age women (40 to
55) tended to have the highest activity level and awareness of the
benefits of exercise. "They are leading the way in being very
health-conscious," Dr. Cousins said. That is likely due to heightened
awareness about health issues in the media, such as menopause, she said.
"Boomer women are well-read. They are also the health-providers for
their families, so that makes them more aware."
In contrast, older men and women (age 56 and up) were 30 to 50 per cent
less likely to be physically active in their leisure time, fearful of
causing themselves illness or injury. "They're being cautious, believing
they need to be passive and careful, but they need to open up their
thinking," Dr. Cousins said. "They don't believe that 60 minutes of
active living everyday will help them age more successfully."
At this point in time, boomer men are also be less
active in their leisure time than boomer women, largely due to being
tired from their jobs. "They have noticed their pot bellies growing
forming as they sit and watch the action at the sports bar," Dr. Cousins
said. But this group is also the most open to the message of 'Just do
it', she added. "They are very aware in this study of what they are not
doing. As 'intenders', they are most likely to benefit from employer and
other community initiatives for fitness."
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