Age and Sex Differences in Physical Activity of Portuguese Adults and Older Adults
This study aims to explore data on objectively measured physical activity from a sample of adults and older adults and to investigate the achievement of the minimum physical activity required for health benefits. Participants, 257 women (age 58.99 ± 18.93 years, BMI 26.75 ± 4.57 kg·m<sup>−2<...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/23/3019 |
| _version_ | 1797400189018832896 |
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| author | Teresa Bento Maria P. Mota Anabela Vitorino Diogo Monteiro Luís Cid Nuno Couto |
| author_facet | Teresa Bento Maria P. Mota Anabela Vitorino Diogo Monteiro Luís Cid Nuno Couto |
| author_sort | Teresa Bento |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study aims to explore data on objectively measured physical activity from a sample of adults and older adults and to investigate the achievement of the minimum physical activity required for health benefits. Participants, 257 women (age 58.99 ± 18.93 years, BMI 26.75 ± 4.57 kg·m<sup>−2</sup>) and 178 men (age 49.22 ± 20.39 years, BMI 26.81 ± 3.51 kg·m<sup>−2</sup>), wore an accelerometer for 4 to 7 days. Approximately 40% of the time was spent daily in sedentary behaviors during waking hours. Our results do not sustain the suggestion that adult men are more physically active than women. The results indicated a decrease in intensity of physical activity with age, in men and women, but not in successive age groups. Around 75% of adults and 30% of older adults accumulated the minimum daily physical activity for health benefits, in periods shorter than 10 min, above moderate intensity. The number of steps taken per day revealed that most men and women (except the oldest) attained or exceeded the lower threshold for deriving health benefits. To obtain relevant health benefits, future physical activity interventions should aim at reversing the amount of sedentary behaviors, emphasizing increments in, at least, the lower levels of PA, and maintaining walking habits. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:50:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7cc056ffe6784c4dbb2fbdd991f8f28c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:50:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-7cc056ffe6784c4dbb2fbdd991f8f28c2023-12-08T15:15:58ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322023-11-011123301910.3390/healthcare11233019Age and Sex Differences in Physical Activity of Portuguese Adults and Older AdultsTeresa Bento0Maria P. Mota1Anabela Vitorino2Diogo Monteiro3Luís Cid4Nuno Couto5Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior, Polytechnic of Santarém (ESDRM-IPSantarém), 2040-413 Rio Maior, PortugalResearch Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), 5001-801 Vila Real, PortugalSport Sciences School of Rio Maior, Polytechnic of Santarém (ESDRM-IPSantarém), 2040-413 Rio Maior, PortugalResearch Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), 5001-801 Vila Real, PortugalSport Sciences School of Rio Maior, Polytechnic of Santarém (ESDRM-IPSantarém), 2040-413 Rio Maior, PortugalSport Sciences School of Rio Maior, Polytechnic of Santarém (ESDRM-IPSantarém), 2040-413 Rio Maior, PortugalThis study aims to explore data on objectively measured physical activity from a sample of adults and older adults and to investigate the achievement of the minimum physical activity required for health benefits. Participants, 257 women (age 58.99 ± 18.93 years, BMI 26.75 ± 4.57 kg·m<sup>−2</sup>) and 178 men (age 49.22 ± 20.39 years, BMI 26.81 ± 3.51 kg·m<sup>−2</sup>), wore an accelerometer for 4 to 7 days. Approximately 40% of the time was spent daily in sedentary behaviors during waking hours. Our results do not sustain the suggestion that adult men are more physically active than women. The results indicated a decrease in intensity of physical activity with age, in men and women, but not in successive age groups. Around 75% of adults and 30% of older adults accumulated the minimum daily physical activity for health benefits, in periods shorter than 10 min, above moderate intensity. The number of steps taken per day revealed that most men and women (except the oldest) attained or exceeded the lower threshold for deriving health benefits. To obtain relevant health benefits, future physical activity interventions should aim at reversing the amount of sedentary behaviors, emphasizing increments in, at least, the lower levels of PA, and maintaining walking habits.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/23/3019accelerometryphysical activitypublic healthrecommendationsageing |
| spellingShingle | Teresa Bento Maria P. Mota Anabela Vitorino Diogo Monteiro Luís Cid Nuno Couto Age and Sex Differences in Physical Activity of Portuguese Adults and Older Adults Healthcare accelerometry physical activity public health recommendations ageing |
| title | Age and Sex Differences in Physical Activity of Portuguese Adults and Older Adults |
| title_full | Age and Sex Differences in Physical Activity of Portuguese Adults and Older Adults |
| title_fullStr | Age and Sex Differences in Physical Activity of Portuguese Adults and Older Adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Age and Sex Differences in Physical Activity of Portuguese Adults and Older Adults |
| title_short | Age and Sex Differences in Physical Activity of Portuguese Adults and Older Adults |
| title_sort | age and sex differences in physical activity of portuguese adults and older adults |
| topic | accelerometry physical activity public health recommendations ageing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/23/3019 |
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