Actividad física y perfil de estilos de vida promotores de la salud en adultos mayores chilenos / Association of sedentariness and health promoting lifestyles in older adults

ABSTRACT

Background Part of having healthy lifestyles should be a regular practice of physical activities. Aim To evaluate the association between the practice of physical activity and healthy lifestyles in older people. Material and Methods The Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile survey was applied to 1688 older people living in the community, aged 72 ± 7 years (61% women). This survey includes questions about regular physical activity. Results Twenty four percent of surveyed participants declared to practice physical activities at least three times per week, without gender differences. Sedentariness increased along with age. There was a negative association between low physical activity and healthy lifestyles (odds ratio (OR) 3.2 confidence intervals (CI) 2.3-4.5). There was also an association between sedentariness and low self-realization (OR 2.4 CI 1.8-3.3), low responsibility with health (OR 1.6 CI 1.22.1), low concern about nutrition (OR 1.8 CI 1.4-2.4), low stress management (OR 2.0 CI 1.5-2.7) and low interpersonal support (OR 2.0 CI 1.5-2.6). Conclusions Sedentariness is negatively associated with health promoting lifestyles in this group of older people.