Abstract

BackgroundPhysical activity levels decline in later life despite the known benefits for physical, cognitive and mental health. Older people find it difficult to meet activity targets; therefore, more realistic and meaningful strategies are needed. We aimed to develop a typology of older people's motivations and lifelong habits of being active as a starting point to co‐designing active ageing strategies in a workshop.MethodsWe conducted semi‐structured interviews with 27 participants aged 65‐80 in Norfolk, UK, and participant observation with 17 of them. At a workshop with 13 study participants and 6 government and civil society representatives, we invited reflections on preliminary findings.ResultsThree types were developed. “Exercisers” had engaged in sport and exercise throughout their life but experienced physical ill health and limitations as barriers. “Out‐and‐about‐ers” pursued social engagement and a variety of interests but experienced biographical disruption through retirement and loss of companions that limited social activities in later life. A final type characterized people who preferred “sedentary/solitary” activities. A workshop elicited suggestions for new strategies relating to these types that addressed people's specific motivations. An example was to combine social engagement and physical activity in “dog‐parent”‐walking schemes to link people through shared responsibility for a dog.ConclusionsWe suggest that these potential strategies map more closely onto the everyday life‐worlds in which public health might seek to intervene than common physical activity interventions. Most notably, this means a more differentiated understanding of barriers, and acknowledging that intellectual, social or solitary pursuits can include incidental physical activity.

Highlights

  • Our populations are ageing, and leading active lives is considered a “best buy” for preventing chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and cancers, cognitive decline and dementia as well as social isolation and mental ill health.[1,2,3,4,5] Many older people, find it difficult to meet current physical activity guidelines.[6]

  • An underlying assumption of most physical activity interventions seems to be that people who are “insufficiently active” might need to learn about the benefits of being active or might require more appealing or accessible opportunities for sports and exercise

  • This qualitative study was embedded in a larger epidemiological project on physical activity in later life and its health outcomes, which in turn made use of data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-­Norfolk study.[15]

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Summary

Introduction

Leading active lives is considered a “best buy” for preventing chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and cancers, cognitive decline and dementia as well as social isolation and mental ill health.[1,2,3,4,5] Many older people, find it difficult to meet current physical activity guidelines.[6]. Physical activity levels decline in later life despite the known benefits for physical, cognitive and mental health. Older people find it difficult to meet activity targets; more realistic and meaningful strategies are needed. Conclusions: We suggest that these potential strategies map more closely onto the everyday life-­worlds in which public health might seek to intervene than common physical activity interventions. Most notably, this means a more differentiated understanding of barriers, and acknowledging that intellectual, social or solitary pursuits can include incidental physical activity

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