A new study from MedUni Wien, published in the journal 'Das Gesundheitswesen,' reveals that only 29.6 percent of Austrians aged 65 and older meet international physical activity guidelines. Researchers analyzed data from 3,995 participants in a health survey.
The international recommendation calls for at least 150 minutes of weekly aerobic physical activity. Author Cristina Fastl notes this includes light to medium intensity endurance movement where the body uses oxygen to generate energy for the entire duration.
Model calculations suggest that meeting these activity goals could prevent 46.6 percent of strokes, 40.8 percent of heart attacks, and 35.8 percent of diabetes cases. These findings highlight the significant impact of exercise on senior cardiovascular health.