Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Tim Bungum, DrPH, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Nevada Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV 89154-3050, 702-895-4986, tim.bungum@unlv.edu and Melva V. Thompson-Robinson, DrPH, Department of Health Promotion, University of Nevada Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Parkway, Box 453050, Las Vegas, NV 89154-3050.

Physical activity (PA) is an important component of healthy lifestyles, and is especially important in preventing and treating obesity. Researchers have demonstrated that PA guidelines can be met via participation in various modes of PA. Research also shows that physical environments are strong predictors of PA. Further it has also been consistently shown that PA decreases as age increases. Therefore we sought to describe modes of PA in which adults aged 44 years and older engage, and where the PA takes place. Participation, or lack thereof, in 20 modes of PA as well as 7 locales of where the PA normally takes place were assessed. A random digit phone survey, of middle aged and older adults was conducted. The respondents (n=519) were 62% female, 55.7% Caucasian, 27.2% African-American and 9.4% Hispanic. Participants ranged from 44 to 89 years, x=60.79±8.9. Only 15.6 % of participants met recommended PA guidelines. By far the most frequently reported mode of PA was walking, engaged in by 53.7% of respondents, the second and third most cited modes of PA were swimming (17.0%) and PA done with exercise equipment, (16.7%). Respondents were allowed to select more than one location of where their PA occurred. Most walking took place at home (45.5%), nearby parks (40.8%) and in apartment complex facilities (20.1%). Because walking is by far the most prevalent PA, and usually occurs near home, it is suggested that public and private entities work to provide walking friendly environments that are in or near residential areas.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session the learner will be able to

• list 3 components of the physical environment that infulence physical activity,
• identify three locales where adults prefer to exercise
• list three prevalent modes of physical activity engaged in by adults

Keywords: Exercise, Adult Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered