Physical activity of elderly women in terms of age
The aim of this study was to analyze an age- related decline in the physical activity level of older women. The research was conducted on a sample of 694 female participants (mean age 69.23±7.81 years, body mass 69.74±12.44 kg, body height 165.17±23.12cm, BMI 69.74±12.44 kg/m2- Mean ±SD). For the age-group comparisons we subdivided the sample into young-old group (354 participants aged 60-69 years) and old-old group (340 participants aged 70-80 years). In this research, the long form of the IPAQ questionnaire for self- evaluation was used containing four types of Physical Activity: work-related, transportation, housework/gardening and leisure-time activities. The three levels of physical activity suggested for classifying the populations are low, moderate, and high. The results show that moderate physical activity is dominant and accounts for almost half the energy consumed regardless of one’s age category. If we consider the type of physical activity, the results indicate that there is a significant difference (p<0.05) between young-old and old-old participants in the Total walking MET and Total vigorous MET. Among elderly women, the value of MET in total physical activity, as well as in moderate and vigorous activity, significantly reduces. Our research has shown that, overall, the young-old group is more physically active than the old-old group.