Health, Performance Ratings and Approachability of 50–60-Year-Old Sedentary Adults (ActIv-Study): Key Insights for Health Economy and Exercise Promotion

Dieter Leyk (), Nadine Hartmann, Emanuel Vits, Thomas Rüther, Stefanie Klatt, Ralf Lämmel and Herbert Löllgen
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Dieter Leyk: Research Group Exercise Epidemiology, German Sport University Cologne, 50933 Cologne, Germany
Nadine Hartmann: Research Group Exercise Epidemiology, German Sport University Cologne, 50933 Cologne, Germany
Emanuel Vits: Research Group Exercise Epidemiology, German Sport University Cologne, 50933 Cologne, Germany
Thomas Rüther: Research Group Exercise Epidemiology, German Sport University Cologne, 50933 Cologne, Germany
Stefanie Klatt: Institute of Exercise Training and Sport Informatics, German Sport University Cologne, 50933 Cologne, Germany
Ralf Lämmel: Faculty of Computer Science, University Koblenz, 56070 Koblenz, Germany
Herbert Löllgen: Research Group Exercise Epidemiology, German Sport University Cologne, 50933 Cologne, Germany

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 8, 1-15

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.

Keywords: lifestyle; physical inactivity; health risk factors; barriers to sport; motives for sport; exercise promotion; incentive systems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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