Reasons for the adherence of older adults to Gyms for Seniors

Abstract Objective: to verify the reasons behind the adherence (entry and permanence) of older adults to Gyms for Seniors (GFSs) in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Method: a total of 396 men and women over the age of 60 were interviewed for this study. The subjects frequented 58 different GFSs from all the administrative regions of the city of Rio de Janeiro. The data was collected with a validated questionnaire and analyzed through descriptive statistics. Results: the results indicated that the main reasons which explain the older population entering the GFSs are to do with health (Avoiding health problems: 26%; Doctor’s orders: 16%) while their permanence is more associated with social factors (I like the teacher and It makes me feel good, both with 100%) and their perception of the benefits of exercise (It is a healthy physical activity: 100%). Conclusion: although health reasons are important for the older adults who enter the program, they mostly remain due to how much they like the activities.