title: Updating the Evidence for Physical Activity: Summative Reviews of the Epidemiological Evidence, Prevalence, and Interventions to Promote "Active Aging".
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is a global imperative to increase awareness of the emerging evidence on physical activity (PA) among older adults. "Healthy aging" has traditionally focused on preventing chronic disease, but greater efforts are required to reduce frailty and dependency and to maintain independent physical and cognitive function and mental health and well-being.
  
  
  METHODS
  This integrated review updates the epidemiological data on PA, summarizes the existing evidence-based PA guidelines, describes the global magnitude of inactivity, and finally describes the rationale for action. The first section updates the epidemiological evidence for reduced cardiometabolic risk, reduced risks of falls, the burgeoning new evidence on improved cognitive function and functional capacity, and reduced risk of depression, anxiety, and dementia. This is followed by a summary of population prevalence studies among older adults. Finally, we present a "review of reviews" of PA interventions delivered from community or population settings, followed by a consideration of interventions among the "oldest-old," where efforts are needed to increase resistance (strength) training and balance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This review identifies the global importance of considering "active aging" beyond the established benefits attributed to noncommunicable disease prevention alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Innovative population-level efforts are required to address physical inactivity, prevent loss of muscle strength, and maintain balance in older adults. Specific investment in healthy aging requires global policy support from the World Health Organization and is implemented at the national and regional levels, in order to reduce the burden of disease and disability among older adults.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Sydney University, New South Wales, Australia. adrian.bauman@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bauman
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Dafna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Merom
authors.affiliation: Centre for Built Environment and Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Fiona C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Bull
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Buchner
authors.affiliation: Exercise, Health and Performance, Faculty of Health Sciences, Sydney University, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fiatarone Singh
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: Evidence; Integrated review; Older adults; Physical activity