A comparison of physical activity levels in two contrasting elderly populations in Thailand

There is little information available on physical activity patterns in the elderly in developing countries. This is particularly important at a time when developing countries are in transition and show signs of moving toward Western style patterns of physical activity and social structure. This study is unique in that it compares the physical activity levels in two contrasting communities: a residential home and a rural community of elderly subjects in Thailand. Ninety elderly people living in a residential home and 78 elderly people living with their families in a rural community were recruited. The men in the rural community were slightly lighter and leaner than the men in the residential community, but the differences were not significant. However, the women were significantly (P < 0.001) heavier and fatter in the residential home than in the rural community. This is consistent with the higher levels of physical activity in the rural community. There was considerable variation in physical activity in this population. The physical activity level (PAL) values ranged from 1.21 to 1.73 in the residential home and from 1.21 to 3.08 in the rural community. This is apparently the first study of physical activity patterns in elderly subjects in a developing country. It highlights the variation in activity within the rural community and between both communities. The opportunities for the elderly living in the residential home to have active lifestyles are limited. It is likely that this will result in increased morbidity in the final years of life.