Physical activity and retirement: original analysis of responses to the English Adult Active Lives Survey

What determines participation in sport for older adults in England: A multilevel analysis of Active Lives data

Physical inactivity within an ageing population is an ongoing public health concern for policymakers. Engagement in sport forms a foundation of policy designed to encourage physical activity participation and improve health and wellbeing. This study aimed to (i) understand the extent to which older adults participate in sport and the (ii) correlates that predict this involvement within an English population sample of older adults. A further aim was (iii) to examine the extent in which sports participation may vary due to the opportunity provided across Active Partnerships in England. To address this, a multi-level analysis framed through COM-B was conducted of the 2021 English Active Lives dataset (i.e., during the COVID-19 pandemic). The Active Lives survey provides population-level insight into sport, exercise, and physical activity participation across England. It samples upwards of n = 180,000 participants beyond the age of 16 years and asks questions on factors that influence participation. Our findings drawn from a sample of n = 68,808 older adults (i.e., >60-years of age) indicate that when accounting for variation across regions sports participation was significantly predicted by age (β = -.246, p = .040) and multiple deprivation (β  = .706, p = .030). Further, our analysis suggests sports participation across regions is associated with changes in the perceptions of opportunity to participate (β = -28.70, p = .001). As the UK transitions from the COVID-19 pandemic, findings have implications for the promotion of sports participation for older adults, in that local, regional, and national stakeholders must do more to change perceptions of social and physical opportunity within an ageing population. This may be achieved through adaptations to the recreational sporting landscape, raising awareness, and supportive policy changes on a national level.

The physical activity implications of retirement across occupational activity groups

Retirement is an important later life transition which may represent a critical period for physical activity in older age. Past findings on the association between retirement and physical activity are inconclusive and there is some evidence that the physical activity implications of retirement may differ by occupational activity level. This study used data from waves 4-9 (June 2008-July 2019) of the English Longitudinal Study on Aging to evaluate whether there is an association between retirement and physical activity, and whether this varies across occupational activity groups. Retirement was associated with a significant increase in physical activity (n = 10,693; β: 0.602 METhrs/wk. [95% CI: 0.490, 0.713], p < 0.001). There were significant interactions between retirement and past occupational activity level (n = 5109; X2 (3)=32.59, p < 0.001), such that people retiring from sedentary or standing occupations experienced a significant increase in physical activity with retirement but retirement from an occupation involving heavy manual labour was associated with a decrease in physical activity. This study quantified the importance of retirement for later life physical activity. With demographic aging, the population health importance of later life physical activity will likely become more important. These findings should inform the design of public health interventions to increase physical activity around the retirement transition.

Who is meeting the strengthening physical activity guidelines by definition: A cross-sectional study of 253 423 English adults?

The current UK physical activity guidelines recommend that adults aged 19 to 65 years perform activity to strengthen muscle and bone a minimum of twice weekly. The number of adults meeting strengthening activity guidelines is lower than for aerobic activity, but estimates vary between studies partly due to differences in how muscle-strengthening activity is defined. We aimed to provide estimates for strengthening activity prevalence in English adults based on a nationally representative sample of n = 253,423 18-65-year-olds. We attempted to quantify the variation in estimates attributable to differences in the way strengthening activity is defined. Finally, we aim to provide a brief descriptive epidemiology of the factors associated with strengthening activity. Adults met guidelines for aerobic activity if they reported the activity equivalent to >150 min/week moderate-intensity exercise. Respondents met strengthening guidelines if they reported at least two bouts per week of strengthening activity. We defined strengthening activity, first, according to criteria used in the Health Survey for England (HSE). Second, we counted bouts of strengthening activities for which we could find evidence of health-related benefits (Evidence). Third, we included bouts of strengthening activity as defined in current UK physical activity guidelines (Guideline). Two-thirds (67%) of adults met guidelines for aerobic activity (69% of men, 65% of women). Less than one-third (29% of men and 24% of women) met guidelines for the HSE definition of strengthening activity. Under the Evidence definition, 16% of men and 9% of women met strengthening guidelines. Using the most-stringent definition (Guideline) just 7.3% of men and 4.1% of women achieved the recommendations for strengthening activity. We found females and older adults (50–65 years) were less likely to meet guidelines for aerobic, strengthening, and combined aerobic plus strengthening activity. The prevalence of meeting activity guidelines was lower in adults from more deprived areas (compared with the least deprived); Adults with lower academic qualifications (Level 1) were less likely to meet activity guidelines than those educated to Level 4 (Degree Level) or higher. Having a limiting disability was associated with a lower prevalence of meeting activity guidelines. Associations between socio-demographic measures and the prevalence of adults meeting activity guidelines were stronger for strengthening activity than for aerobic 51(or combined aerobic plus strengthening) activity Compared with aerobic activity, fewer adults engage in strengthening activity regardless of how it is defined. The range in estimates for how many adults meet strengthening activity guidelines can be explained by variations in the definition of ‘strengthening’ that are used and the specific sports or activities identified as strengthening exercise. When strengthening activity is included, the proportion of English adults meeting current physical activity guidelines could be as high as 1 in 3 but possibly as low as just 1 in 20. A harmonized definition of strengthening activity, that is aligned with physical activity guidelines, is required to provide realistic and comparable prevalence estimates.

Physical activity levels among the adults of Majha region of Punjab, India: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

To construct a physical activity profile of the adult population of the Majha region of the Indian Punjab.

METHODS

The study included a total of 1130 adult participants aged 18 to 64 years comprising both genders, from rural, urban, and different sociodemographic backgrounds from the four districts of the Majha region of Punjab. The WHO's STEPwise approach to Surveillance instrument for noncommunicable diseases was used to collect data for the selected variables such as physical activity levels, demographic characteristics, behavioral parameters (daily screen time, fruit intake/week, and vegetable intake/week), physical characteristics and self-reported history of cardiovascular diseases, raised blood pressure, diabetes, and raised cholesterol. The likelihood of physical inactivity was predicted based on independent variables using logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, 56.81% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 53.9-59.7) of participants were not sufficiently active as per WHO's moderate- to vigorous-intensity recommendations. Obesity and overweight were observed among 40.2% of the participants. Mean minutes/day of smartphone screen time was 86.11 (CI: 79.48-92.71). Mean fruit (4.69 CI: 4.42-4.95) and vegetable (15.35 CI: 15.08-15.62) weekly consumption was lower than the WHO's recommendations. Work status, residence, annual household income, smartphone screen time, history of raised blood pressure, history of diabetes, and history of raised cholesterol were significant predictors of insufficient physical activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study found a high prevalence of physical inactivity. Being a government employee, being an urban resident, having a middle-level annual household income, high smartphone screen time and having a history of raised blood pressure, diabetes, and raised cholesterol were all significant predictors of physical inactivity.