LOS ANGELES, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- UCLA researchers say seniors with the lowest expectations for aging -- what one can do at an advanced age -- were most likely to lead sedentary lifestyles.
The scientists found such seniors were more than twice as likely to report engaging in less than 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity during the previous week than those with higher age expectations.
The study was based on survey responses from 636 older citizens recruited from 14 Los Angeles-area community-based senior centers.
"We know that the No. 1 way we can improve the health of older adults is to increase physical activity -- it's more powerful than common expensive medications," said lead researcher Dr. Catherine Sarkisian, assistant professor of geriatric medicine at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine. "We might be able to help more seniors exercise if we can change what they believe about aging."
The research appears in the October issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
