Go4Life

from NIA NEWS, October 19, 2011

Being physically active is vital to maintaining health and independence as we age, and a new federal campaign for people 50 and older will help them to get active and keep going. Introduced today by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Go4Life campaign encourages sedentary older adults to reap health benefits by making physical activity part of their daily lives. Only 25 percent of people aged 65-74 say they engage in regular physical activity.

Go4Life’s participating organizations will incorporate campaign resources into their own health and wellness activities, disseminating Go4Life web links and materials to their members, employees, and customers. Many partners will directly sponsor events or community activities aimed at engaging older adults in exercise and physical activity as the campaign moves forward.

The campaign was conceived, and is being led, by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the component of NIH devoted to research on aging. The NIA will work with the Go4Life community on events and will highlight participating organizations and their activities on the campaign website.

The research-based resources of Go4Life center on a colorful, interactive website (www.nia.nih.gov/Go4Life) providing information and motivation for exercise for individuals, families and friends, organizations, and health care professionals. The site features specific exercises, success stories, and free materials to motivate growing numbers of older people to start exercising and keep going. It even offers online virtual coaches to help motivate Go4Life participants. Many Go4Life materials are available in Spanish at http://go4life.niapublications.org/resources/spanish#espanol.

To develop Go4Life, NIA brought together some of the nation’s leading experts on aging, exercise, and motivation. Over two years, the task force reviewed the research and worked with the institute to develop a book, “Exercise & Physical Activity: Your Everyday Guide from the National Institute on Aging.” The campaign is based on the book.

For further information on the public and private support of the Go4Life initiative, please visit www.nia.nih.gov/Go4Life.