[Physical activity of elderly people living in district Koprzywnica (Poland)]

Abstract

Background: Physical activity has good influence on health. The physical activity of elderly people may decrease, because of the health problems or think that with aging sport activity should be reduced.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess a physical activity and energy expenditure of people in age 60 and more in the Koprzywnica district (Poland).

Material and methods: 95 persons in age 60 and more (51 women and 44 men) participated in the study. All participants live alone or with family. The following data: total energy expenditure, active energy expenditure, physical activity duration (MET > 3,0), vigorous physical activity duration (MET > 6,0), number of steps, lying down duration were collected using SenseWear Pro3 Armband, Body Media Pittsburgh, USA. The measurement was conducted for 24 hours. Physical activity was also classified on the basis of the number of steps.

Results: The median of the age of participants was 71 years. The median of BMI was 27,1 kg/m2. Age was correlated with BMI (R = -0,28, p = 0,005). Participants made on average 6335 steps daily, 42% of them made less than 5000 steps and 31,5% more than 10000 steps a day. The median of the total energy expenditure was 33,1 kcal/kg of body mass a day (2522 kcal a day), while the median of the active energy expenditure was 5,7 kcal/kg of body mass a day (482 kcal a day). The median of the physical activity duration was 1 hour and 22 minutes, and in most cases it was the moderate physical activity. In case of 17 women (33%) and 20 men (45,5%) the vigorous physical activity was detected, and duration of this physical activity was 1-22 minutes. The median of the lying down duration was 8 hours and 44 minutes. Older persons had shorter physical activity duration, made less steps and at the same time had lower active energy expenditure and total energy expenditure than younger ones. There were no differences between younger and older participants in the sedentary energy expenditure and lying down duration. Simultaneously participants with higher BMI compared with participants with lower BMI had shorter physical activity duration as well as lower active energy expenditure and total energy expenditure but there were no differences in number of steps, lying down duration and sedentary energy expenditure between them.

Conclusions: In case of older persons the duration of physical activity was shorter and the active energy expenditure was lower than in case of younger persons. Both groups had the sedentary energy expenditure and the lying duration at the same level. Elderly people with higher BMI had lower total energy expenditure and lower intensity and shorter physical activity duration than elderly people with lower BMI.