Greater physical activity of an aerobic nature ( categorized by a variety of methods ) was associated with higher functional status ( expressed by a host of outcome measures ) in older age .
For functional independence , moderate ( and high ) levels of physical activity appeared effective in conferring a reduced risk ( odds ratio ~0.5 ) of functional limitations or disability .
Limitation in higher level performance outcomes was reduced ( odds ratio ~0.5 ) with vigorous ( or high ) activity with an apparent dose-response of moderate through to high activity .
Exercise training interventions ( including aerobic and resistance ) of older adults showed improvement in physiological and functional measures , and suggestion of longer-term reduction in incidence of mobility disability .
A relatively high level of physical activity was related to better cognitive function and reduced risk of developing dementia ; however , there were mixed results of the effects of exercise interventions on cognitive function indices .
Conclusions There is a consistency of findings across studies and a range of outcome measures related to functional independence ; regular aerobic activity and short-term exercise programmes confer a reduced risk of functional limitations and disability in older age .
Although a precise characterization of a minimal or effective physical activity dose to maintain functional independence is difficult , it appears moderate to higher levels of activity are effective and there may be a threshold of at least moderate activity for significant outcomes
Background The purpose was to conduct systematic review s of the relationship between physical activity of healthy community-dwelling older ( > 65 years ) adults and outcomes of  functional limitations , disability , or loss of independence .
Joint effects of adiposity and physical activity on incident mobility limitation in older adults.
OBJECTIVES To examine joint associations of physical activity and adiposity measures ( body mass index ( BMI ) , waist circumference , percentage body fat ) with incident mobility limitation . DESIGN Prospect i ve observational cohort study . SETTING Memphis , Tennessee and Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania . PARTICIPANTS Two thous and nine hundred and eighty-two black and white men and women aged 70 to 79 participating in the Health , Aging and Body Composition ( Health ABC ) study . MEASUREMENTS Mobility limitation was defined as reported difficulty walking one-quarter of a mile or climbing 10 steps during two consecutive semiannual assessment s over 6.5 years . Three measures of adiposity were included in this study : BMI , total percentage body fat , and waist circumference . Physical activity  was assessed using a modified leisure-time physical activity question naire . RESULTS Forty-six percent of the cohort developed mobility limitation .  White and black men with a high BMI ( > or = 30 kg/m(2 ) ) , high total percentage body fat ( > 31.3 % ) , or high waist circumference ( > or = 102 cm ) had an approximately 60 % , 40 % , and 40 % , respectively , higher risk of incident mobility limitation than those with low adiposity . In women , high adiposity was also associated with a significantly higher mobility limitation risk than in those with low adiposity . Low physical activity ( lowest quartile ) was associated with a 70 % higher risk of mobility limitation in all groups . Persons with high adiposity and low physical activity were at particularly high risk of mobility limitation .  People with high adiposity who were physically active had an equally high risk of mobility limitation as inactive people with low adiposity . CONCLUSION High adiposity and low self-reported physical activity predicted the onset of mobility limitation in well-functioning older persons . Preventing weight gain in old age and promoting physical activity in obese and non-obese older persons may therefore be effective strategies to prevent mobility loss and future disability
Greater physical activity of an aerobic nature ( categorized by a variety of methods ) was associated with higher functional status ( expressed by a host of outcome measures ) in older age .
For functional independence , moderate ( and high ) levels of physical activity appeared effective in conferring a reduced risk ( odds ratio ~0.5 ) of functional limitations or disability .
Limitation in higher level performance outcomes was reduced ( odds ratio ~0.5 ) with vigorous ( or high ) activity with an apparent dose-response of moderate through to high activity .
Exercise training interventions ( including aerobic and resistance ) of older adults showed improvement in physiological and functional measures , and suggestion of longer-term reduction in incidence of mobility disability .
A relatively high level of physical activity was related to better cognitive function and reduced risk of developing dementia ; however , there were mixed results of the effects of exercise interventions on cognitive function indices .
Conclusions There is a consistency of findings across studies and a range of outcome measures related to functional independence ; regular aerobic activity and short-term exercise programmes confer a reduced risk of functional limitations and disability in older age .
Although a precise characterization of a minimal or effective physical activity dose to maintain functional independence is difficult , it appears moderate to higher levels of activity are effective and there may be a threshold of at least moderate activity for significant outcomes
Background The purpose was to conduct systematic review s of the relationship between physical activity of healthy community-dwelling older ( > 65 years ) adults and outcomes of  functional limitations , disability , or loss of independence .