Physical Activity and Physical Function: Moving and Aging

Abstract

Evidence supports that the physical disablement process starts earlier than previously thought, in midlife when women still have many years to live. Physical activity participation and interventions have been successful in preventing disability in older adults and may be promising for maintaining function at younger ages. Changing the conversation to more relevant topics in midlife, like positive changes in body composition, sleep, and improved mood, may move the dial on participation, as midlife women do not meet guidelines for physical activity. Exploring the role of reproductive aging beyond chronologic aging may provide gender-specific insights on both disablement and participation.

Keywords: Aging; Midlife women; Physical activity; Physical functioning.

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure Statement: The authors have no commercial or financial conflicts of interest to disclose.

Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Figures

Figure 1:

Prevalence of meeting 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines (PAG) for midlife American women (aged 45–54 years and 55–64 years) based on self-reported data from the 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (i.e., aerobic guidelines, muscle strengthening (MSA) guidelines, and both aerobic and muscle strengthening guidelines) and accelerometer data from 2003–06 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).