Sex, age, season, and habitual physical activity of older Japanese: the Nakanojo study.
The interactions of sex, age, season, and habitual physical activity were examined in 41 male and 54 female Japanese age 65-83 yr, using a pedometer/accelerometer that determined step counts and amounts of physical activity (<3 and >3 metabolic equivalents [METs]) throughout each 24-hr period for an entire year. All 3 measures were greater in men than in women. In women, age was negatively correlated with step count and activity <3 METs, but in men, it was correlated with step count and activity >3 METs. Irrespective of sex or age, all 3 activity variables were low in the winter, peaking in spring or autumn. In the summer, step counts matched the annual average, but durations of activity <3 and >3 METs were, respectively, longer and shorter than in other seasons. These findings have practical implications for those promoting physical activity for older adults.
Yasunaga
Akitomo
A
Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Bunka Women's University, Tokyo, Japan.
Togo
Fumiharu
F
Watanabe
Eiji
E
Park
Hyuntae
H
Park
Sungjin
S
Shephard
Roy J
RJ
Aoyagi
Yukitoshi
Y
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged / Q000502:physiology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006184:Habits; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors