Comparison of Exercise Behavior and Information of Exercise in 40-64 Years Old Turkish People

ABSTRACT

Regular Exercise is consistently related to physical and psychological health benefits inolderadults. The purpose of this study was to investigate source of information about exercise behavior in 40-64 years old Turkish people.

Methods: One hundred twenty subjects (nwoman=71, n=men=49) volunteered to take part in this study.  Subjects had done exercise regularly at least 1 year. Besides, socioeconomic status, educational level and exercise habits of subjects were compared. The subjects were conducted a questionnaire which included 55 questions about exercise habituation.

Results: (1) BMI of subjects was 27,98±4,41 (pre-obese). (2) %67 of subjects had exercised 4-5 days per week. (3) %91 of subjects did exercise less than 90 minutes for each day. (4) %76,3 of subjects emphasized that information about exercise was acquired except for physicians and exercise instructors.

(5) %27 of subjects indicated that information about exercise was acquired from TV and %44,5 from other information sources like family, relatives, friends, municipal activities, billboards or internet.
There were no clear differences (X2=6,98, p>0,05) between educational level and number of exercise per week of subjects who have already had done exercise regularly. Turkey is a developing country and percentage of people who can read and write is %87,25. Accordingly, this feature influences exercise quality of people.

Conclusion: Results from this study suggested that, information is insufficient for some Turkish people to promote and encourage them to do exercise. The quality of television broadcasts related with exercise should be increased to promote and encourage of people for doing exercise. The source of information about exercise should be varied for instance, newspapers, friends, family, relatives, municipal activities, billboards or internet.
Key words: promotion, exercise, information, older, education.
e-mail (K. Alparslan ERMAN): ermana@akdeniz.edu.tr

Introduction

In 2009, 17.233 million people in Turkey -25,05% of the population- were between 40-64 years old, which was an increase of 24.41% from 2007 (Turkish Statistical Institute 2010).
Maintenance of independent living and enhancement of overall quality of life, are very vital for people of all ages (particularly for older adults). Therefore, in older adults, regular exercise can improve their quality of life and independent living abilities.

Subjects
One hundred twenty healthy woman (n=70) and men (n=49), aged 40-65 years old, volunteered in the investigation. They had been exercising regularly for 1 year.

Table 1: Descriptive statistics of the subjects.

Table 1. Age and gender differences in health-related quality of life of adolescents from Latin American countries

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Questionnaires was conducted to determine of their Physical Activity level, socio-economic and cultural status and exercise habituation. Moreover, this survey focused on determining source of information about exercise of them.

Results

Table 2: Relationship between Smoking and State of Education

Table 2. Comparison of Exercise Behavior and Information of Exercise in 40-64 Years Old Turkish People

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There is no significant difference between smoking and State of Education of subjects (chi-square=9,69, p>0,05).

Table3 : Exercise days per week within last 1 year.

Table 3. Comparison of Exercise Behavior and Information of Exercise in 40-64 Years Old Turkish People

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Table 4: Relationship between State of Education and Number of exercise days within per week.

Table 4. Comparison of Exercise Behavior and Information of Exercise in 40-64 Years Old Turkish People

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There is no significant difference between number of exercise days and State of Education of subjects (Chi-square=6,98,p>0,05).

Table 5: Exercise time per  day (hours)

Table 5. Comparison of Exercise Behavior and Information of Exercise in 40-64 Years Old Turkish People

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Subjects exercised mostly 1 (42%) or 1.5 (49%) hour per day and they got this information from TV (29%), 51% of the subjects got information about exercise time (hour/day)  from other resources like newspaper, relatives, magazine or chatting.

Table 6: Answer of the “Do you know what should be your heart rate during exercise?”

Table 6. Comparison of Exercise Behavior and Information of Exercise in 40-64 Years Old Turkish People

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77% of subjects who didn’t know what should be heart rate approximately during exercise. 23% of subjects indicated that they gained information of heart rate from  TV (29%) and other (32%) resources. Knowing (23%) subjects emphasized that they heart rate should be 91.14±15,68 during exercise.

Table 7: Answer of the “Do you know how many kilometers should be walk or run during an exercise?”

Table 7. Comparison of Exercise Behavior and Information of Exercise in 40-64 Years Old Turkish People

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Principally subjects (53%) said that they didn’t know how many kilometers should be walk or run during exercise. %47 of subjects indicated that they acquired this information from TV (25%) and other (57%) resources. Knowing ones (47%) who indicated that running or walking length should be 5.43±2.4 km.

Conclusion

According to results of this survey it can be said that TV plays a crucial role about acquiring information related to exercise and state of education does not influence directly to gain exercise information for subjects who participated this survey voluntarily . Results from this study suggested that, information is insufficient for some Turkish people to promote and encourage to do exercise. The quality of television broadcasts related with exercise should be increased to promote and encourage of people for doing exercise. The source of information about exercise should be varied for instance, newspapers, friends, family, relatives, municipal activities, billboards or internet.

References

1. ÖZER,K,Fiziksel Uygunluk, 2001
2. KALE,R,Yaşam Boyu Spor, 2002
3. WILMORE,J,COSTILL,D, Physiology of sports and exercise, 1994
4.  AYÇEMAN,N,Farklı Yaş Gruplarındaki Bireylerde Detraining Etkilerinin İncelenmesi,2002 (unpublished dissertation)
5. SPIDUSO,W,Physical Dimensions of Aging,1995

Turkish Statistical Institude Report 2010