Physical inactivity among older adults: Implications for life expectancy among non-overweight and overweight or obese individuals

Ngaire Coombs; Emmanuel Stamatakis; I-Min Lee

doi:10.1016/j.orcp.2014.11.004

Physical inactivity among older adults: Implications for life expectancy among non-overweight and overweight or obese individuals

Obes Res Clin Pract. 2015 Mar-Apr;9(2):175-9. doi: 10.1016/j.orcp.2014.11.004. Epub 2015 Feb 13.

Authors

Ngaire Coombs¹, Emmanuel Stamatakis², I-Min Lee³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK; PARG (Physical Activity Research Group), Population Health Domain, University College London, London, UK; Department of Social Statistics and Demography, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. Electronic address: n.coombs@soton.ac.uk.
² Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK; PARG (Physical Activity Research Group), Population Health Domain, University College London, London, UK; Prevention Research Collaboration, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Australia; Exercise Science Discipline, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia.
³ Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

PMID: 25684134
DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2014.11.004

Abstract

This study investigates to what extent physical inactivity in older age is associated with reduced life expectancy among non-overweight and overweight/obese individuals. Data from 20,203 respondents aged ≥60 years were drawn from the Health Survey for England and Scottish Health Surveys (1994-2008) and 5-year all-cause mortality linkage. Population attributable fractions were calculated to estimate years of life lost due to physical inactivity. Physical inactivity was defined as not meeting the current UK physical activity guidelines for older adults. Not meeting physical activity guidelines was associated with reduced life expectancy that is larger among non-overweight individuals than among overweight/obese.

Keywords: Life expectancy; Obesity; Older adults; Physical activity; Population attributable fraction.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Body Mass Index*
England
Exercise*
Female
Health Behavior
Health Surveys
Humans
Life Expectancy*
Longevity*
Male
Middle Aged
Obesity / complications*
Overweight
Reference Values
Risk Factors
Scotland
Sedentary Behavior*