title: Level of physical activity at the age of 65 predicts successful aging seven years later: the PROOF study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical activity has a pleiotropic effect and is a significant factor in successful aging. This study aims to quantify the relationship between the physical activity of a 65-year-old cohort and the level of life satisfaction and self-rated health 7 years later.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 988 questionnaires were sent by mail to a representative sample of healthy pensioners. Life satisfaction and health status were estimated on two visual analogical scales in answer to the following questions: (1) How would you estimate your state of health? and (2) Are you generally satisfied with your life? The level of physical activity was estimated using a questionnaire which enabled us to calculate: (1) Daily energy expenditure (DEE), (2) physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE), (3) daily energy expenditure higher than 5 metabolic equivalents (METs) (DEQisa), (4) Activity index (PAEE/DEE), (5) VO(2) peak.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 686 responses were validated. The average age was 72.9 ± 1.2 years old with 59.5% of women (n = 408). Amongst the sample, 98.8% (n = 676) lived in their own homes and 25.2% (n = 172) lived alone. Mean DEE was 10.365 ± 1.964  kJ/24  h, mean PAEE was 4.479 ± 1.170  kJ/24  h, mean activity index was 0.42 ± 0.05, and mean estimated oxygen uptake (VO(2)) peak was 22.5 ± 1.6  mL/min per kg. Activity index and VO(2) peak were the variables most significantly correlated with self-rated health (p = 0.0032 and p = 0.0011, respectively) and life satisfaction (p = 0.0117 and p = 0.0053).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Energy spent in activity and VO(2) peak estimated from DEE, measured at the age of 65, appear to be strong predictors of well-being 7 years later.
authors: Equipe d'Accueil Système Nerveux Autonome, Epidémiologie, Physiologie, Exercice, Santé (SNA-EPIS), PRES Lyon, Université Jean Monnet, Hôpital Universitaire, Saint-Étienne, France. emilie.crawford@univ-st-etienne.fr
authors: Emilie Crawford
authors: EC
authors: Achour
authors: Jean Claude
authors: JC
authors: Barthelemy
authors: Karine Castro
authors: KC
authors: Lionard
authors: Béatrice
authors: B
authors: Trombert
authors: Jean René
authors: JR
authors: Lacour
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Thomas-Anterion
authors: Régis
authors: R
authors: Gonthier
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Garet
authors: Frédéric
authors: F
authors: Roche
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires