Turkish Journal of
GERIATRICS

Ankara Ãœniversitesi Beden EÄŸitimi ve Spor Yüksekokulu, Antrenörlük EÄŸitimi Bölümü, Spor SaÄŸlık Bilimleri Anabilim Dalı, Ankara Little is known about the (habitual) physical activity levels of elderly in Turkey. The purpose of this study was to evaluate habitual physical activity of 65 and over older people living at rest homes in Istanbul. CHAMPS questionnaire was used in private and public of rest home by modifiying. The questionnaire assesses weekly frequency and duration of various physical activities typically undertaken in the last one month by older adults. We estimated caloric expentidure per week expended in physical activity, and created a summary of frequency for each week measures. We calculated measures of each of these for: 1) all exercise – related activities, 2) moderate – high intensity exercise related activities ( MET ≥ 3), 3) all activities. The sample consisted of 153 old person aged between 65 and 90. Mean caloric expenditure per week in all exercise related activities was 1695 kcal, for women 1078 kcal, for men 2216 kcal; mean frequency per week was 13.58, for women 13.12, for men 13.96. Mean caloric expenditure per week in moderate and high intensity exercise was 867 kcal, for women 454 kcal, for men 1214 kcal; mean frequency per week was 4.39, for women 3.41, for men 5.22. Caloric expenditure per week in all activities was 2890 kcal, for women 2091, for men 3563 kcal; frequency per week was 20.66, for women 19.98, for men 21.22. The significant correlations between caloric expenditure in all physical activitiy measures and body mass index(BMI) and sex were found. There was no significant correlation between caloric expenditure in any of physical activitiy measures and education level, income level and place of living.The significant correlation between physical activity mesaures and age was found only in moderate-high intensity exercise related activities. We conclude that old people’s home residents in Istanbul who are 65 and older are not active enough physically, and weekly energy consumption level for them was lower than the American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM) suggested value for the benefit of exercise. It is recommended that old people have to be encouraged to participate in the physical activity . Keywords : Aging, Physical activity, Rest home