Health, Performance Ratings and Approachability of 50-60-Year-Old Sedentary Adults (ActIv-Study): Key Insights for Health Economy and Exercise Promotion

Abstract

Despite significant prevention efforts, the numbers of physically inactive individuals, chronic illnesses, exhaustion syndromes and sick leaves are increasing. A still unresolved problem with exercise promotion is the low participation of sedentary persons. This collective term covers heterogeneous subgroups. Their engagement with movement campaigns and resistance to change are influenced by numerous factors. Our aim was to analyse survey data on health, performance, lifestyle habits and the approachability to physical activity campaigns obtained from the Germany-wide ActIv survey. From 2888 study participants aged 50-60 years, 668 persons were categorised into the subgroups "never-athletes", "sports-dropouts", "always-athletes" and "sports-beginners". Large and significant group differences were found for BMI, assessment of quality of life, health and fitness, risk factors and health problems. In total, 42.5% of "never-athletes" and 32.5% of "sports-dropouts" did not state any barriers to sport. There are substantial disparities between the non-athlete groups in terms of their motivation to exercise. In contrast, there are comparatively minor differences in motivation between "sports-dropouts" and "sports-beginners", whose health and fitness are the primary motivators for sport. Our analyses suggest that (i) negative health and performance trends cannot be compensated for by appeals for voluntary participation in exercise programmes and (ii) powerful incentive systems are required.

Keywords: barriers to sport; exercise promotion; health risk factors; incentive systems; lifestyle; motives for sport; physical inactivity.

Figure 1

BMI classes of persons aged 50–60 years (296 men, 372 women) with different sport status (“always-athletes”, “sports-beginners”, “sports-dropouts”, “never-athletes”).

Figure 2

Assessment of quality of life (using a five-point Likert scale from very low (1) to very high (5). Responses from 50–60-year olds (n = 668) with different sporting statuses (“always-athletes”, “sports-beginners”, “sports-dropouts”, “never-athletes”) to the question “How would you rate your overall quality of life?”.

Figure 3

Assessment of health (using a five-point Likert scale). Information from 50–60-year olds (n = 668) with different sporting statuses (“always-athletes”, “sports-beginners”, “sports-dropouts”, “never-athletes”) on the statement “Overall, I feel healthy”.

Figure 4

Assessment of own performance (using a five-point Likert scale). Information from 50–60 year olds (n = 668) with different sporting statuses (“always-athletes”, “sports-beginners”, “sports-dropouts”, “never-athletes”) on the statement “Overall, I feel able to perform”.

Figure 5

Assessment of motivation to take part in sport (using a five-point Likert scale)—responses from 50–60-year olds (n = 668) with different sporting statuses (“always-athletes”, “sports-beginners”, “sports-dropouts”, “never-athletes”) to the statement “I am motivated to do sport”.