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Physical activity trackers: Shaping behavior to promote healthy aging among older adults
Wearing physical activity tracking devices can promote healthy aging, improve population's quality of life, and reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases.
The promotion of healthy aging among older adults is of increasing interest. This is attributed to reasons like the rising number of this age group and a shift in health policies toward promoting the overall health of the elderly. One of the factors that promote healthy aging is physical activity (PA), which has been shown to improve overall health and prevent and/or reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases. In addition, research indicates that maintaining PA in older adults improves their daily functioning and protects them from age-related disorders and frailty.
On the other hand, physical inactivity has been labeled a significant risk factor for morbidity and premature death. Moreover, various studies have demonstrated its negative impact on the overall economy, resulting from implications on the healthcare budget and reduced productivity. For example, one study indicated that physical inactivity accounted for $54 billion in direct healthcare costs in 2013.
The emergence of digital health and wellness technologies, including applications, devices, and services, significantly encouraged PA. Also, adopting such technologies by the elderly is becoming increasingly popular. However, studies evaluating how this suite of technologies could promote older adults’ PA behavior over extended periods are lacking.
To address the abovementioned gap, Kari et al. evaluated the impact of using a PA tracker application on 241 older adult PA behavior during the first two years of use. The mean age of the study population was 69.8 years.
The results indicated that the PA tracker application improved PA behavior among the elderly. In addition, it showed that the use of the tracker application led to statistically significant increase in walking, moderate PA, and total PA. The increase in PA levels was consistent across the study duration.
The authors concluded that utilizing a PA tracker technology suite, specifically applications, could promote healthy PA behavior among older adults. Moreover, such technology led to sustained change in PA behavior over 24 months. This means that implementing them with older populations could promote healthy aging, improve that population's quality of life, and reduce their risk of non-communicable diseases. The outcomes of this research impact individuals and societies, especially with the increasing number of the older population.
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The promotion of healthy aging among older adults is of increasing interest. This is attributed to reasons like the rising number of this age group and a shift in health policies toward promoting the overall health of the elderly. One of the factors that promote healthy aging is physical activity (PA), which has been shown to improve overall health and prevent and/or reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases. In addition, research indicates that maintaining PA in older adults improves their daily functioning and protects them from age-related disorders and frailty.
On the other hand, physical inactivity has been labeled a significant risk factor for morbidity and premature death. Moreover, various studies have demonstrated its negative impact on the overall economy, resulting from implications on the healthcare budget and reduced productivity. For example, one study indicated that physical inactivity accounted for $54 billion in direct healthcare costs in 2013.
The emergence of digital health and wellness technologies, including applications, devices, and services, significantly encouraged PA. Also, adopting such technologies by the elderly is becoming increasingly popular. However, studies evaluating how this suite of technologies could promote older adults’ PA behavior over extended periods are lacking.
To address the abovementioned gap, Kari et al. evaluated the impact of using a PA tracker application on 241 older adult PA behavior during the first two years of use. The mean age of the study population was 69.8 years.
The results indicated that the PA tracker application improved PA behavior among the elderly. In addition, it showed that the use of the tracker application led to statistically significant increase in walking, moderate PA, and total PA. The increase in PA levels was consistent across the study duration.
The authors concluded that utilizing a PA tracker technology suite, specifically applications, could promote healthy PA behavior among older adults. Moreover, such technology led to sustained change in PA behavior over 24 months. This means that implementing them with older populations could promote healthy aging, improve that population's quality of life, and reduce their risk of non-communicable diseases. The outcomes of this research impact individuals and societies, especially with the increasing number of the older population.
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Dr. Ana Baroni MD. Ph.D.
Scientific & Medical Advisor
Quality Garant
Ana has over 20 years of consultancy experience in longevity, regenerative and precision medicine. She has a multifaceted understanding of genomics, molecular biology, clinical biochemistry, nutrition, aging markers, hormones and physical training. This background allows her to bridge the gap between longevity basic sciences and evidence-based real interventions, putting them into the clinic, to enhance the healthy aging of people. She is co-founder of Origen.life, and Longevityzone. Board member at Breath of Health, BioOx and American Board of Clinical Nutrition. She is Director of International Medical Education of the American College of Integrative Medicine, Professor in IL3 Master of Longevity at Barcelona University and Professor of Nutrigenomics in Nutrition Grade in UNIR University.
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