THE BENEFITS AND BARRIERS OF EXERCISE FOR THE PHYSICAL HEALTH OF OLDER WOMEN

Abstract

It is well known that exercise has beneficial effects on physical and mental health and wellbeing. Most research has taken place in young and middle aged groups. Less is known about older people, whom we define as 50 years and over, and even less about women. In this paper we consider particular groups where the risk may be the greatest. This includes those with functional limitations especially those who are frail, with eating problems, at the menopause, at risk of falls and from black and minority ethnic groups. For each of these groups the benefits and barriers are discussed. The focus of this article is on physical problems. .