Physical activity and fitness among midlife and older rural women.
This study investigated physical activity and fitness of midlife and older rural women. Random-digit dialing was used to recruit 225 women (57.9 +/- 5.6 years old). Self-reported activity (moderate activity, flexibility, and strength) and fitness (body composition, flexibility, strength, and estimated VO(2max)) were assessed. The women demonstrated low daily energy expenditure (30.74 +/- 10.63 kcal x kg(-1) x day(-1)) and estimated VO(2max) (20.12 +/- 7.81 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)), with 51.5% reporting fair or poor health. Few women reported meeting Healthy People 2010 targets for moderate activity (43.1%), flexibility (28.9%), or strength )14.2%). When classified by estimated VO(2max) into three categories, differences were observed for body-mass index, percent body fat, sit and reach, and timed chair stands, with the poorest performance by those with low cardiorespiratory fitness. Adherence to Healthy People 2010 targets for moderate activity and strengthening was associated with higher cardiorespiratory fitness. These rural women are targets for physical activity interventions because of their sedentary behaviors and low cardiorespiratory fitness.
Hageman
Patricia A
PA
Division of Physical Therapy Education, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4420, USA.
Walker
Susan Noble
SN
Pullen
Carol H
CH
Boeckner
Linda S
LS
Oberdorfer
Maureen K
MK
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001823:Body Composition; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D018583:Pliability; D012423:Rural Health; D012424:Rural Population