ABSTRACT
Introduction ............................................................................................................ 134 Current Activity Guidelines for Adults ............................................................. 134 Brief Overview of Physical Activity Epidemiology Applied to Adults ............ 135
Physical Activity Levels in Adults ......................................................................... 135 Women versus Men ................................................................................................ 136
Considerations for Physical Activity Promotion in Women.............................. 136 Underserved Populations ....................................................................................... 137
Considerations for Physical Activity Promotion in Underserved Adults .......... 138 Periods of Transition through Adulthood ............................................................... 139
Change in Employment Status .......................................................................... 140 Potential Strategies to Increase Physical Activity during Employment Transitions ......................................................................................................... 141 Change in Residence or Circumstance .............................................................. 141 Potential Strategies to Promote Physical Activity Following Geographical Changes ............................................................................................................. 142 Change in Physical Status ................................................................................. 143 Potential Strategies to Promote Physical Activity Following Changes in Physical Status .................................................................................................. 144 Change in Relationships .................................................................................... 144 Potential Strategies to Promote Physical Activity Following Relationship Changes ............................................................................................................. 145 Change in Family Structure .............................................................................. 145 Potential Strategies to Promote Physical Activity Following Changes in Family Structure ................................................................................................ 146 Considerations for Future Research .................................................................. 146
Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 147 Study Questions ..................................................................................................... 147 Acknowledgment ................................................................................................... 148 References .............................................................................................................. 148
Physical activity has been shown to reduce the risk of premature death and chronic conditions and improve health risk factors, physical —tness, and functional capacity (Haskell et al. 2007; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2008). Accordingly, physical activity has been identi—ed as a critical element of healthy aging (Kesaniemi et al. 2001), a term used to characterize optimal physical, mental, and social well-being in older adults. To achieve optimal health, it is recommended that all healthy adults participate in both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity (Haskell et al. 2007) and avoid excessive time in discretionary sedentary pursuits. Engaging in activities that result in improvement in other facets of physical —tness (e.g., exibility and balance/coordination) is also important. However, in 2007, less than half (49.3%) of U.S. adults met the guidelines for physical activity (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2008).
