大都市居住高齢者の身体活動量

この研究は大都市に居住する高齢者の健康・体力の維持増進に必要な身体活動量を確保する方途を見いだすための基礎資料を得ることを目的としている。渋谷区および目黒区に住む40歳以上の男女を対象に、次の2つの調査・測定を実施した。①健康や体力に関連する意識や行動などの実態を知るため、男性395名、女性422名を対象にアンケート調査を行った。調査期日は1990・1991年の5～6月に郵送法で実施した。②歩数と日常生活行動との関係を見るため、男性259名、女性413名を被験者として測定・調査した。一日の歩数は単に歩行したときのステップ数という意味だけでなく、その日の身体活動量を表すーつの指標と考えた。歩数の計測は1990・1991年8月～9月中の任意の土曜日、日曜日および月曜日の3日間にわたり実施した。これらの資料は歩数と行動との関係について性・年齢別に分析・検討した。主な結果は次の通りである。① 健康・体力に対する関心は非常に高い。身体活動量の不足は感じているが、それを改善するための理解、方法などの認識が不十分で、実践に結び付いていない。②歩数と日常生活行動との関係については、1)歩数は加齢とともに低下を示し、40代のときの値に対し70代は男女とも約20%、80歳以上は男性で約32%、女性で約37%の低下となり、女性の低下率の方が男性のそれより高い。2)各年代、男女とも土曜日の歩数が最も多く、日曜日のそれが最も少ない。3)大都市居住の男性の歩数は40代から60代まで、女性は40代から50代までは全国平均を下回るが、それ以後は上回っている。4)天候と歩数との関係は、男女とも曇天のとき最も多く、雨天のとき最も少ない。5)テレビ視聴時間と歩数との関係は、男女とも、7時間以上の者には高い逆相関が認められる。6)ローレル指数との関係は男性で160、女性で150を超えるあたりから顕著な歩数の低下傾向が見られる。

This research is aimed at collecting basic data on how the elderly of urban Tokyo secure the amount of Physical activity needed to maintain and improve their health and fitness. We conducted two surveys on male and female residents over forty in Shibuya and Meguro Ward of Central Tokyo: (1) In May and June of 1990 and 1991，we mailed questionnaires to 395 male and 422 female subjects to determine their attitude and behavior with regard to health and fitness. (2) In August and September of 1990 and 1991，we conducted a study on 259 males and 413 females to examine the relationship between the number of steps they take in a three-day period (Saturday，Sunday，Monday) and the types of activity they perform. The daily number of steps is considered an indicator of the amount of physical activity，rather than simply the amount of walking. The subjects also provided a schedule of their movement and activities during this time. The analysis of the data yielded the following insights in the relationship between the number of steps and behavior for each gender and age group: (1) Although the subjects are very interested in health and fitness，they are unaware of means to improve on them. Thus，while they consider their physical activity insufficient，they do little to change. (2) Regarding the relationship between the number of steps and daily activity: 1) The number of steps decreases with age. For males and females in their seventies，the number of steps is about 20 % lower than for those in their forties. For males above eighty，the decline is 32 % and for females 37%, the rate of decrease being higher for women than for men. 2) For all age groups monitored，both male and female subjects recorded the highest number of steps on Saturdays and the lowest on Sundays. 3) For male subjects between forty and sixty. the number of steps recorded in Tokyo is below the national average，but for those in their seventies，Tokyo men rank above the nationa1 average. Tokyo women in their forties and fifties are also below the national average，while those in their sixties are above. 4) The number of steps is closely related to the weather，the highest figures being recorded for cloudy weather and the lowest for rainy days，regardless of gender. 5) The number of steps is related to watching TV. There is a high negative correlation between the number of steps and the hours spent watching TV (form seven hours upwards)，regardless of gender. 6) The number of steps is related to Rohler's Index. Males with a Rohler's Index above 160 and females above 150 show a marked decline in their number of steps.