title: Are Older Adults Physically Active Enough - A Matter of Assessment Method? The Generation 100 Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical activity (PA) is beneficial for general health. As a result, adults around the world are recommended to undertake regular PA of either absolute or relative intensity. Traditionally, adherence to PA recommendation is assessed by accelerometers that record absolute intensity thresholds. Since ageing often results in a decrease in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), older adults (aged > 65 years) might be more susceptible to not meeting the PA recommendation when measured in absolute terms. The aim of the present study was to compare the adherence to the PA recommendation using both absolute and relative thresholds. Additionally, we aimed to report the reference values for overall PA in a large sample of Norwegian older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  PA was assessed for 7 days using the Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometer in 1219 older adults (624 females) aged 70-77 years. Overall PA was measured as counts per minute (CPM) and steps. Absolute and relative moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) thresholds were applied to quantify adherence to PA recommendation. The relative MVPA thresholds were developed specifically for the Generation 100 population sample. CRF was directly measured as peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Proportions meeting PA recommendation were 29% and 71% when utilizing absolute and relative MVPA, respectively. More females met the relative PA recommendation compared to males. Overall PA was higher among the youngest age group. Older adults with medium- and high levels of CRF were more physically active, compared to those with the lowest levels of CRF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to compare adherence to PA recommendation, using absolute and relative intensity thresholds among older adults. The present study clearly illustrates the consequences of using different methodological approaches to surveillance of PA across age, gender and CRF in a population of older adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology and Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology Management, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Nils Petter
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Aspvik
authors.affiliation: K.G. Jebsen Center of Exercise in Medicine at Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.|Liaison Committee between the Central Norway Regional Health Authority and Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Hallgeir
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Viken
authors.affiliation: K.G. Jebsen Center of Exercise in Medicine at Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zisko
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology and Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology Management, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Jan Erik
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ingebrigtsen
authors.affiliation: K.G. Jebsen Center of Exercise in Medicine at Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.|School of Human Movement & Nutrition Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Ulrik
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wisløff
authors.affiliation: K.G. Jebsen Center of Exercise in Medicine at Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.|Liaison Committee between the Central Norway Regional Health Authority and Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Dorthe
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stensvold
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009664:Norway; D057185:Sedentary Behavior