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Important Facts for Physically Active Older Adults

Definition

1. Active: Adults aged 65 years and over who participated in any physical activities during the previous month 2. Inactive: Adults aged 65 years and over who engage in no leisure-time physical activity

Numerator

1. Active: Number of persons aged 65 years and over who report that they participated in any physical activities during the previous month 2. Inactive: Number of persons aged 65 years and over who report that they never do, or are unable to do, light or moderate physical activity for at least 10 minutes and that they never do, or are unable to do, vigorous physical activity for at least 10 minutes

Denominator

Number of persons aged 65 years and over

Data Interpretation Issues

Starting in 2011, BRFSS protocol requires that the NJBRFS incorporate a fixed quota of interviews from cell phone respondents along with a new weighting methodology called iterative proportional fitting or "raking". The new weighting methodology incorporates additional demographic information (such as education, race, and marital status) in the weighting process. These methodological changes were implemented to account for the underrepresentation of certain demographic groups in the land line sample (which resulted in part from the increasing number of U.S. households without land line phones). Comparisons between 2011 and prior years should therefore be made with caution. (More details about these changes can be found at [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6122a3.htm].) Data from the New Jersey Behavioral Risk Factor Survey are intended to represent non-institutionalized adults in households with telephones. Data are collected using a random sample of all possible telephone numbers. Prior to analysis, data are weighted to represent the population distribution of adults by age, sex, and "race"/ethnicity. As with all surveys, however, some residual bias may result from nonresponse (e.g., refusal to participate in the survey or to answer specific questions) and measurement error (e.g., social desirability or recall). Attempts are made to minimize such error by use of a strict calling protocol (up to 15 calls are made to reach each household), good questionnaire design, standardization of interviewer behavior, interviewer training, and frequent, on-site interviewer monitoring and supervision.

Why Is This Important?

Physical activity among adults has numerous benefits, including: reducing risk of heart disease and stroke, improving physical fitness, bone health and mental health, preventing high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, pre-diabetes and diabetes, maintaining health weight and increasing mobility. Among older adults, physical activity is crucial in preventing falls.

Other Objectives

'''Revised Healthy New Jersey 2020 Objective OA-3''': Increase the proportion of older adults aged 65 years and over who engage in some leisure-time physical activity to 70.6% among the total population, 71.8% among Whites, 63.7% among Blacks, 65.3% among Hispanics, and 75.9% among Asians. '''Original Healthy New Jersey 2020 Objective OA-3a''': Reduce the proportion of older adults aged 65 to 74 years who engage in no leisure-time physical activity to 30.3% among the total population, 28.7% among Whites, 38.9% among Blacks, and 34.4% among Hispanics. '''Original Healthy New Jersey 2020 Objective OA-3b''': Reduce the proportion of older adults aged 75 years and over who engage in no leisure-time physical activity to 38.8% among the total population, 37.4% among Whites, 44.9% among Blacks, and 49.6% among Hispanics.

How Are We Doing?

In 2020, the percentage of older adults in New Jersey who were physically active was 69.1%.
The information provided above is from the Department of Health's NJSHAD web site (https://nj.gov/health/shad). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Thu, 28 March 2024 14:40:42 from Department of Health, New Jersey State Health Assessment Data Web site: https://nj.gov/health/shad ".

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