title: How diverse was the leisure time physical activity of older Australians over the past decade?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Public health recommendations for older adults highlight the need to engage in a combination of aerobic, muscle strength, flexibility and balance activities. This study characterised leisure time physical activity in older Australians (≥ 65 years), examining the diversity in reported activities
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional monitoring.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Exercise Recreation and Sport Surveys (2001-2009) were combined and analysed for 22,050 elderly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Walking was reported by 45.6%, of those 53% engaged exclusively in walking. Prevalent sports (i.e., >1%) were bowls (9.4%), aerobics/callisthenics exercise (9.1%), golf (7.7%), swimming (6.4%), gym work (5.2%), cycling (3.2%), tennis (2.9%), dancing (2.1%), fishing (2.0%), tai chi (1.4%), weight lifting (1.2%) and yoga (1.1%). Significant gender differences were apparent. Over time, significant increases were reported in walking, aerobic/callisthenics and gym workout in both genders. In the previous year, 32.0% of older adults participated in "nil" activity, 40.6% engaged in one activity, 19.5% and 8.0% participated in two or three or more activities, respectively. Common combinations were walking with another aerobic activity. Only 2.6% reported a combination of aerobic, balance and strength activities. Multiple-activity participation increased over the years, but declined with increasing age, education and for the most disadvantaged, compared to single-activity participation. Partially or exclusively organised participation, combined, was reported by 42.5% of older adults. Women were more likely to combine mode of participation. Geographic region was associated with multiple-activity participation and organised-only participation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most elderly people engage in one activity, if at all. An increase in participation in balance enhancing activities and weight training is warranted to maximize health benefits.
authors.affiliation: University of Western Sydney, School of Science and HealthAustralia, Prevention Research Collaboration, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Australia. d.merom@uws.edu.au
authors.forename: Merom
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dafna
authors.forename: Cosgrove
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carmen
authors.forename: Venugopal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kamalesh
authors.forename: Bauman
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Adrian
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D011998:Recreation; D012737:Sex Factors