Exercise Not in the List of Daily Routine of Older Americans

Older Americans, or those at least 50 years old need to get out of their sedentary lifestyles and get some physical activity going,according to the survey done by the U.S. government.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a report that 31 million Americans over 50 do not exercise, which makes them more susceptible to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

‘Inactivity seems to increase as Americans get older. 25 percent of the respondents aged 50 to 64 were inactive, as to 27 percent of those aged 65 to 74, and 35 percent of those aged 75 and above.’

According to co-author Janet Fulton, head of Physical Activity and Health in the CDC, physical activity is also a valuable tool in promoting "healthier and more vibrant communities."



Fulton and her fellow researchers studied the results of a 2014 health survey that centered on people at least 50 years of age. In this survey, the facilitators defined inactivity as only moving around to do routine tasks. And with that definition in mind, 31 million Americans over 50 were considered "inactive," or about 29 percent of female respondents and close to 26 percent of males.



In terms of racial demographics, about a third of African-American and Hispanic respondents were classified as inactive, while 26 percent of Caucasians fit that description.



Southerners (30 percent) were most likely to be inactive, with those in Arkansas being the least active, as only 61 percent of respondents admitted to exercising daily. Colorado, on the other hand, was the most physically active state for older Americans, as 82 percent said they exercise on a daily basis.



In addition to those findings, the CDC also discovered that inactivity seems to increase as Americans get older. 25 percent of the respondents aged 50 to 64 were inactive, as to 27 percent of respondents aged 65 to 74, and 35 percent of those aged 75 and above.



Source: Medindia