Age-related differences in physical activity levels of young adults

Leslie, Eva, Fotheringham, Michael J., Owen, Neville and Bauman, Adrian (2001) Age-related differences in physical activity levels of young adults. Medicine And Science In Sports And Exercise, 33 2: 255-258.


Author Leslie, Eva
Fotheringham, Michael J.
Owen, Neville
Bauman, Adrian
Title Age-related differences in physical activity levels of young adults
Journal name Medicine And Science In Sports And Exercise   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2001-02
Sub-type Article
Volume number 33
Issue number 2
ISSN 0195-9131
Start page 255
End page 258
Total pages 4
Place of publication Philadelphia
Publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Language eng
Subject 1117 Public Health and Health Services
Abstract Purpose: To examine age-related differences in the physical activity behaviors of young adults. Methods: We examined rates of participation in vigorous- and moderate-intensity leisure-time activity and walking, as well as an index of physical activity sufficient for health benefits in three Australian cross-sectional samples, for the age ranges of 18-19, 20-24, and 25-29 yr. Data were collected in 1991, 1996, and 1997/8. Results: There was at least a 15% difference in vigorous-intensity leisure-time physical activity from the 18-19 yr to the 25-29 yr age groups, and at least a 10% difference in moderate-intensity leisure-time physical activity. For the index of sufficient activity there was a difference between 9 and 21% across age groups. Differences in rates of walking were less than 8%. For all age groups, males had higher rates of participation for vigorous and moderate-intensity activity than did females, bur females had much higher rates of participation in walking than males. Age-associated differences in activity levels were more apparent for males. Conclusions: Promoting walking and various forms of moderate-intensity physical activities to young adult males, and encouraging young adult females to adopt other forms of moderate-intensity activity to complement walking may help to ameliorate decreases in physical activity over the adult lifespan.
Keyword Sport Sciences
Walking
Moderate-intensity Activity
Vigorous-intensity Activity
Prevalence
Australian College-students
Assistance
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Provisional Code
Institutional Status Unknown

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collection: School of Population Health Publications
 
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Created: Mon, 13 Aug 2007, 12:10:46 EST