چکیده (انگلیسی):

Background:Sedentary behaviour is detrimental to health, even in those who achieve recommended levels of
physical activity. Efforts to increase physical activity in older people so that they reach beneficial levels have been
disappointing. Reducing sedentary behaviour may improve health and be less demanding of older people, but it
is not clear how to achieve this. We explored the characteristics of sedentary older people enrolled into an exercise
promotion trial to gain insights about those who were sedentary but wanted to increase activity.
Method:Participants in the ProAct65+ trial (2009–2013) were categorised as sedentary or not using a self-report
questionnaire. Demographic data, health status, self-rated function and physical test performance were examined
for each group. 1104 participants aged 65 & over were included in the secondary analysis of trial data from older
people recruited via general practice. Results were analysed using logistic regression with stepwise backward
elimination.
Results:Three hundred eighty seven (35 %) ofthe study sample were characterised as sedentary. The likelihood
of being categorised as sedentary increased with an abnormal BMI (<18.5 or >25 kg/m
2
) (Odds Ratio 1.740, CI
1.248–2.425), ever smoking (OR 1.420, CI 1.042–1.934) and with every additional medication prescribed (OR 1.069,
CI 1.016–1.124). Participants reporting better self-rated physical health (SF-12) were less likely to be sedentary;
(OR 0.961, 0.936–0.987). Participants’ sedentary behaviour was not associated with gender, age, income, education,
falls, functional fitness, quality of life or number of co-morbidities.
Conclusion:Some sedentary older adults will respond positively to an invitation to join an exercise study. Those
who did so in this study had poor self-rated health, abnormal BMI, a history of smoking, and multiple medication
use, and are therefore likely to benefit from an exercise intervention.
Trial registration:ISRCTN reference: ISRCTN43453770
Keywords:Older people, Physical activity, Sedentary behaviour, Exercise promotion