Neighbourhood deprivation and physical activity in UK older adults

The benefits of regular physical activity for older adults are now well-established but this group remain the least active sector of the population. In this paper, the association between levels of neighbourhood deprivation and physical activity was assessed. A sample of 125 males with a mean age of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health & place 2011-03, Vol.17 (2), p.633-640
Main Authors: Fox, K.R., Hillsdon, M., Sharp, D., Cooper, A.R., Coulson, J.C., Davis, M., Harris, R., McKenna, J., Narici, M., Stathi, A., Thompson, J.L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Academic achievement
Accelerometry
Activities of Daily Living
Adults
Aged
Analysis of Variance
Community participation
Deprivation
Educational Status
Elderly people
England
Exercise
Female
Gender
Gerontology
Health
Home
Housing
Humans
Least-Squares Analysis
Male
Monitoring, Physiologic - instrumentation
Multiple deprivation
Neighbourhoods
Obesity
Older adults
Physical ability
Physical activity
Physical Fitness
Physical function
Poverty Areas
Public health
Residence Characteristics
Socioeconomic status
Strategy
United Kingdom
Weight
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Summary:The benefits of regular physical activity for older adults are now well-established but this group remain the least active sector of the population. In this paper, the association between levels of neighbourhood deprivation and physical activity was assessed. A sample of 125 males with a mean age of 77.5 (±5.6) years, and 115 females with a mean age of age 78.6 (±8.6) underwent 7-day accelerometry, a physical performance battery, and completed a daily journeys log. Univariate associations between physical activity parameters and level of deprivation of neighbourhood were extinguished in regression models controlling for age, gender, and level of educational attainment. Age, gender, educational attainment, body mass index, physical function, and frequency of journeys from the home explained between 50% and 54% of variance in activity parameters. These results suggest the importance of strategies to help older adults maintain physical function, healthy weight, and remain active in their communities.
ISSN:1353-8292
1873-2054
DOI:10.1016/j.healthplace.2011.01.002