FAQs for Health Professionals

Go4Life is an exercise and physical activity campaign from the National Institute on Aging at NIH, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is designed to help adults 50 and older fit exercise and physical activity into their daily lives. Motivating older adults to become physically active for the first time, return to exercise after a break in their routine, or build more exercise and physical activity into their day is the goal of Go4Life. Go4Life offers specific exercises, motivational tips, success stories, and free materials to help older adults get ready, start exercising, and keep going. The Go4Life campaign includes a science-based exercise guide in English and Spanish, an exercise video, an interactive website, and more.

The mission of Go4Life is to motivate older adults to become physically active for the first time, return to exercise after a break in their routine, or build exercise and physical activity into everyday routines.

Go4Life was developed by the National Institute on Aging at NIH. The goal of research conducted and supported by the NIA is to improve the health and well-being of older adults. The Institute has had a long-standing interest in science-based activities to promote greater physical activity among older adults.

To develop Go4Life materials and messages, NIA brought together some of the nation’s leading experts on the topic of exercise and physical activity for older adults. The project began with the publication of Exercise & Physical Activity: Your Everyday Guide from the National Institute on Aging, which remains a central resource of the campaign.

Regular exercise and physical activity are important to the physical and mental health of almost everyone, including older adults. Being physically active can help older adults continue to do the things they enjoy and stay independent longer, as well as produce long-term health benefits.

Many older adults have questions and concerns about how to exercise safely. Go4Life is designed specifically for them, providing information, tools, resources, and motivational ideas specific to their needs. Go4Life exercises, messages, information, and resources are tailored specifically for adults 50 and older. We address their lifestyles, health concerns, and the benefits of exercise most relevant to them.

Despite the growing list of benefits of exercise for older people, adults in the U.S. tend to become less active as they age. Recent data from the National Health Interview Survey indicate that the majority of older adults — 55 percent of individuals 65 years and older — are inactive. The first NIA Exercise Guide was created in 1998 to address the limited availability of evidence-based exercise guidance specific to older adults. In 2009, we updated the Guide to include greater practical guidance on physical activity and to expand the target audience more specifically to include people living with various chronic conditions. Exercise and Physical Activity: Your Everyday Guide from the National Institute on Aging became the foundation for the Go4Life campaign. Specific exercise and physical activity messages of the Go4Life campaign include:

• Exercise is good for your health. Evidence from extensive laboratory and clinical studies has shown the benefits of exercise and physical activity in managing and preventing chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis; and helping reduce feelings of depression, improve mood and overall well-being. Studies also suggest exercise may improve or maintain some aspects of cognitive function, such as the ability to shift between tasks or plan an activity.
• Exercise is possible for people living with chronic conditions. Exercise modifications enable those with chronic conditions to exercise safely.
• Alternative physical activities are preferred by many older adults. Some people prefer activities such as walking, yoga, dancing, or gardening over working out at the gym. Go4Life encourages people to be creative in their selection of activities in an effort to increase their level of activity.
• Motivation is key. Go4Life includes tips for getting ready, starting to exercise, and returning to being active after an interruption or setback due to illness, injury, or caregiving responsibilities.
• Older adults can exercise safely. The roles of environment and safety can be critical factors in an older person’s ability to take part in physical activity. Go4Life provides examples of activities that can be done in a variety of both urban and rural settings.
• “Healthy” eating and physical activity go hand in hand. Go4Life offers practical information on monitoring portion sizes and making healthy dining choices.

Go4Life has developed Spanish-language materials, including Ejercicio y Actividad Física: Su guía diaria del Instituto Nacional Sobre el Envejecimiento, a Spanish-language adaptation of Exercise & Physical Activity: Your Everyday Guide from the National Institute on Aging. In addition, Go4Life has Spanish-language tip sheets and newsletter articles, a free poster, and a bilingual fotonovela, Nunca es tarde para comenzar a hacer ejercicio. Go4Life also engages community and government organizations that serve the Hispanic community.

As the Go4Life campaign gets underway, we are actively seeking participation of the public and organizations interested in improved health for older people. Organizations should be in a position to reach the 50 and older population with the Go4Life message and resources, as well as family members, caregivers, and health care providers. Potential collaborators might include:

• Federal, state, and local government agencies
• Aging organizations
• Fitness organizations
• Health organizations
• Corporations

Collaborators can help by:

• Distributing Go4Life message and materials to members, employees, or customers.
• Linking to the Go4Life website.
• Hosting Go4Life events.
• Co-branding and printing Go4Life materials.

Those interested in partnering with Go4Life should contact Go4Life@nia.nih.gov [1].