Obesity and reports of no leisure time activity among older Americans: Results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Physical inactivity is a cardiovascular risk factor that has a higher preva lence among overweight adults. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of not participating in Leisure Time Physical Activity (LPTA) an d the relationship to body weight class among older U.S. adults. A national ly representative cross-sectional survey with an in-person interview and me dical examination was used. Between 1988 and 1994, 6569 adults 60 years of age or older responded to the household adult and family questionnaires as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III. Mexican A mericans and non-Hispanic blacks were oversampled to produce reliable estim ates for these groups. Overall, 39% of older U.S. adults fall in the overwe ight range and 23.3% are obese. Obese older adults were more likely than th eir overweight and healthy weight counterparts to report participating in n o LTPA The prevalence of adults reporting no leisure time physical activity (LPTA) is lowest among non-Hispanic whites compared to non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican-Americans in each body mass index category. Future interventio ns should address strategies to promote an increase in leisure time physica l activity among older adults, especially among underserved populations, an d help them to prevent weight gain.