Exercise Attitudes and Behaviors: A Survey of Adults Age 50-79 - Aarp

Characteristics of the Healthy
Health-Related Activities Have Done in the Past 12 Months
Over the past year, at least two-thirds of 50-79 year-olds took one or more
of the following health- and wellness-related steps:
• Checked blood pressure (93%)
• Discussed health issues with doctor (82%)
• Tried to control weight (78%)
• Had cholesterol checked (76%)
• Tried to manage stress (73%)
• Read books or articles on health, nutrition, and wellness (68%).
Fewer than half, however:
• Started an exercise program (43%) or
• Started a physical activity program (41%).
Gender
Women are more likely than men to say they have taken many of these
steps in the past year. For example, higher proportions of women than men
say they tried to manage stress (79% versus 65%, respectively), read
books or articles on health-related topics (75% versus 59%), and ate more
healthy foods (70% versus 52%).
One exception—men are more likely than women to say they started a
physical activity program in the past year (47% versus 38%, respectively).
Age
On most items, responses vary little by age. There are a few exceptions:
• 50-59 year-olds are most likely to have eaten more healthful foods in
the past year (66%), changed what they ate to prevent disease (55%),
and used the Internet to find health-related information (41%).
• 60-69 year-olds are especially likely to have read a health-related book
or article (73%).
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