Aging is a natural process characterized by gradual physical decline. Aging can bring with it numerous health risks, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, certain cancers and overweight/obesity; plus it has been linked to reduced life expectancies and higher medical costs [1].
Physical inactivity has been found to increase the risk of many chronic diseases/disorders, such as cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disorders, metabolic conditions and mental health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disorders, metabolic conditions and mental health conditions. Physical inactivity increases early death due to heart attacks, strokes and blood clots in lungs/legs. Blood circulation decreases, leading to muscle tone loss and reductions in bone density as well as dementia or depression in cognitive functions – negatively impacting cognitive functions negatively – leading to early death due to heart attacks/strokes etc.
However, most current research focuses on quantifying sedentary behavior using objective or self-reported measures and leaves an information gap regarding older adults’ lived experience with sedentary behaviors. This is important given that interventions do not lead to sustainable behavioral change and often people fall back into old habits [13].
This study employed a phenomenological hermeneutical approach to examine the meaning of living an inactive lifestyle among older adults. Three key themes emerged, such as unnaturality of being Sedentary and felt alienation, frailty with ageing body becoming unwelcomed, desire for physical activity being bound up with fear of injury; contributing significantly to knowledge regarding older adults’ perceptions of Sedentary behaviors and Aging.