Somebody Needs to Light a Firecracker under Me!- Understanding How Older Adults Make Decisions about Physical Activity

Sedentary behavior in the United States has reached epidemic proportionsdespite the overwhelming evidence that physical activity can prevent or decreasethe severity of disease and can contribute to an enhanced quality of life. Inactivityis common across all age groups but older adults who have the most to benefitfrom regular physical activity are the least active. Only one in four adults overthe age of 65 participate in regular physical activity. Another important age groupto consider is those aged 55-64 not only because they represent the next generationof older adults but they too report high levels of inactivity. It has been projectedthat by the year 2030 the number of older adults 65 and over will reach70 million in the United States. Persons over 85-years old represent the fastestgrowing population segment. An increase in exercise behaviors is also cost effective.Sedentary behavior nearly doubles the risk of heart disease and it is estimatedthat $6.4 billion per year would be saved if all sedentary people in the UnitedStates began a program of regular walking. Therefore it is imperative to understandthe reasons for low participation in regular physical activity among boththe current older adult and upcoming older adult populations.