Age-related differences in physical activity levels of young adults.
OBJECTIVE
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, but 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.
Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia. eva_leslie@uow.edu.au
E
E
Leslie
M J
MJ
Fotheringham
N
N
Owen
A
A
Bauman
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011998:Recreation; D016138:Walking