Profiles of physical activity in older adults: Project OPAL (Older people and active living)

The recent Chief Medical Officer’s report established that physical activity is effective in reducing risk of disease and maintaining physical and mental function in later life. We know surprisingly little about the patterns of physical activity in older people and their determinants, although national surveys indicate that over 80% are insufficiently active for health. This research combines expertise in human geography, neighbourhood sociology, health psychology and exercise physiology to document physical activity patterns and their environmental and social determinants in urban dwelling older people. The participants are men and women aged 70 or over living in neighbourhoods of different levels of social deprivation and amenity provision. Physical activity patterns and levels are assessed using accelerometry, global positioning technology, and self-report. Questionnaires and interviews help us determine purposes of journeys, food purchasing habits, perceptions of neighbourhoods, barriers to activity and levels of mental well-being. Tests of functionality and tasks of daily living are undertaken to explore links with activity and life quality. Using geographical information systems, the influence of local amenities and services on patterns of movement is estimated. We believe that this multidisciplinary ecological approach will provide a unique vision and help provide vital information for directing public health initiatives.

The recent Chief Medical Officer?s report on activity and health established that physical activity is effective in reducing risk of disease and maintaining physical and mental function in later life. We know very little about the levels, modes and patterns of physical activity in older people although national surveys indicate that over 80% are insufficiently active for health. Neighbourhoods are becoming less conducive to walking and cycling, with greater reliance on motorised transport, loss of local amenities and increased concerns for safety. We have a strong track record of funded research (NIH, CRUK, NHS, Diabetes UK) in many aspects of activity and health including our EU Better Ageing project, and BHF and CABE work on the effects of the changing environment on physical activity. From this, we propose to bring together expertise in human geography, neighbourhood sociology, exercise physiology, and primary care in order to document physical activity patterns and their environmental and social determinants in urban dwelling older people.
The focus will be men and women aged 70 or over living in neighbourhoods of different levels of social deprivation and amenity provision. Physical activity will be assessed using accelerometry, global positioning technology, which allow the objective assessment of levels and patterns of movement across time and space. Spheres of activity will be meshed with local land use data using geographical information systems to plot the influence of local amenities and services on patterns of movement. Questionnaires will be administered, and focus groups and interviews conducted to establish a) perceptions of older people about the influence of characteristics of the neighbourhood such as safety, risk, distance from recreational spaces, shops and other services, transport, housing, and social connectedness on their activity, and b) the effects of activity on psychological well-being and life quality. Tests of functionality and tasks of daily living will be undertaken to explore the links with activity,well-being and life quality. We believe that this multidisciplinary ecological approach will provide a unique vision that will help provide vital foundational information for directing public health initiatives.