 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Chaya Gordon, MPH, Research Manager, American Society on Aging, 833 Market Street, Suite 511, San Francisco, CA 94103, 415 974 9604, chayag@asaging.org
Elders in culturally and ethnically diverse communities are especially in need of access to community-based physical activity programs. The well-documented benefits of physical activity include improved functionality; delay or better management of chronic diseases such as diabetes; psychological well-being; reduced risk of falling; and prevention of premature death due to cardiovascular disease. The Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health (1996) notes that inactivity increases with age. Healthy People 2010 reports that the percentage of sedentary African American (52%), Latino (54%), American Indian/Alaska Native (46%), and Asian/Pacific Islander (42%) adults is considerably higher than white adults (38%). Older women of color are the least physically active. However, few physical activity interventions or programs have been designed specifically to promote the participation of elders of color. The National Roundtable on Physical Activity and Diversity Among Adults Age 50 and Older was established to increase understanding of the current knowledge base, challenges, barriers, and opportunities for developing innovative and effective culturally appropriate physical activity interventions for African American, Latino and Native American adults age 50 and older. This session will discuss strategies to address social and economic barriers that affect the participation of elders of color in physical activity including exercise beliefs and perceptions; logistic barriers such as cost, transportation, schedule conflicts, safety, availability of facilities; and language barriers. The session will also examine model physical activity program elements for elders of color and other diverse communities
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Cultural Competency, Health Promotion
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Grant for the National Roundtable on Physical Activity and Diversity Among Adults Age 50 and Older