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Open AccessArticle
Health, Performance Ratings and Approachability of 50–60-Year-Old Sedentary Adults (ActIv-Study): Key Insights for Health Economy and Exercise Promotion
by
Dieter Leyk
Dieter Leyk 1,2,*,
Nadine Hartmann
Nadine Hartmann 1,
Emanuel Vits
Emanuel Vits 1,3,
Thomas Rüther
Thomas Rüther 1,
Stefanie Klatt
Stefanie Klatt 4
,
Ralf Lämmel
Ralf Lämmel 2
and
Herbert Löllgen
Herbert Löllgen 1,5
1
Research Group Exercise Epidemiology, German Sport University Cologne, 50933 Cologne, Germany
2
Faculty of Computer Science, University Koblenz, 56070 Koblenz, Germany
3
Department X-Anesthesia, Bundeswehr Central Hospital Koblenz, 56072 Koblenz, Germany
4
Institute of Exercise Training and Sport Informatics, German Sport University Cologne, 50933 Cologne, Germany
5
Faculty of Medicine, University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(8), 969; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21080969 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 30 April 2024
/
Revised: 16 July 2024
/
Accepted: 17 July 2024
/
Published: 24 July 2024
Abstract
Despite significant prevention efforts, the numbers of physically inactive individuals, chronic illnesses, exhaustion syndromes and sick leaves are increasing. A still unresolved problem with exercise promotion is the low participation of sedentary persons. This collective term covers heterogeneous subgroups. Their engagement with movement campaigns and resistance to change are influenced by numerous factors. Our aim was to analyse survey data on health, performance, lifestyle habits and the approachability to physical activity campaigns obtained from the Germany-wide ActIv survey. From 2888 study participants aged 50–60 years, 668 persons were categorised into the subgroups “never-athletes”, “sports-dropouts”, “always-athletes” and “sports-beginners”. Large and significant group differences were found for BMI, assessment of quality of life, health and fitness, risk factors and health problems. In total, 42.5% of “never-athletes” and 32.5% of “sports-dropouts” did not state any barriers to sport. There are substantial disparities between the non-athlete groups in terms of their motivation to exercise. In contrast, there are comparatively minor differences in motivation between “sports-dropouts” and “sports-beginners”, whose health and fitness are the primary motivators for sport. Our analyses suggest that (i) negative health and performance trends cannot be compensated for by appeals for voluntary participation in exercise programmes and (ii) powerful incentive systems are required.
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MDPI and ACS Style
Leyk, D.; Hartmann, N.; Vits, E.; Rüther, T.; Klatt, S.; Lämmel, R.; Löllgen, H.
Health, Performance Ratings and Approachability of 50–60-Year-Old Sedentary Adults (ActIv-Study): Key Insights for Health Economy and Exercise Promotion. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21, 969.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21080969
AMA Style
Leyk D, Hartmann N, Vits E, Rüther T, Klatt S, Lämmel R, Löllgen H.
Health, Performance Ratings and Approachability of 50–60-Year-Old Sedentary Adults (ActIv-Study): Key Insights for Health Economy and Exercise Promotion. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2024; 21(8):969.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21080969
Chicago/Turabian Style
Leyk, Dieter, Nadine Hartmann, Emanuel Vits, Thomas Rüther, Stefanie Klatt, Ralf Lämmel, and Herbert Löllgen.
2024. "Health, Performance Ratings and Approachability of 50–60-Year-Old Sedentary Adults (ActIv-Study): Key Insights for Health Economy and Exercise Promotion" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 21, no. 8: 969.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21080969
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