BLUEPRINT PARTNERS PROGRESS
December 2004

In This Issue:

Key Indicators of Well-Being for Older Adults Report
Merck Institute Annual Report on State of Aging and Health
Obesity Trends and Effects on Future Health Care Costs: RAND Health Study
Homebuyers Seek Walkable Communities
Physical Fitness Linked to Fewer Doctor Visits
Fitness Trend Predictions for 2005

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Key Indicators of Well-Being for Older Adults Report
Fewer older Americans have a chronic disability than a decade ago, but the number of overweight and obese adults age 65-74 increased from 57 percent in 1976 to 73 percent in 2002. Statistics about the older adult population in the areas of health status, health risks and behavior, health care, and economics are available in the new report, Older Americans 2004: Key Indicators of Well-Being. The report, compiled by the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics, explores 37 indicators of well-being.

The report is available online at:
www.agingstats.gov
Single printed copies of the report can be obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics by calling (301) 458-4636 or by sending an e-mail to nchsquery@cdc.gov. For multiple print copies, contact Forum Staff Director Kristen Robinson at (301) 458-4460 or send an e-mail request to kgr4@cdc.gov.

Merck Institute Annual Report on State of Aging and Health
Report cards on national and state level health indicators for older adults are available in the new State of Aging and Health 2004, produced by Merck Institute, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Gerontological Society of America. The report provides a spotlight on physical activity and describes the efforts of our National Blueprint Initiative.

Obesity Trends and Effects on Future Health Care Costs: RAND Health Study
The proportion of individuals with clinically severe obesity increased from 1 in 200 adults in 1986 to 1 in 50 adults in 2000, reports the new study from RAND Health, a nonprofit research organization. Severely obese people are more than twice as likely to be in fair or poor condition compared with normal weight adults, and to have twice as many chronic health conditions. The study is available at:

Homebuyers Seek Walkable Communities
More Americans are looking for a shorter commute time to work, an availability of sidewalks and places to walk, and easy access to highways, according to a 2004 survey sponsored by the National Association of Realtors and Smart Growth America. When asked to choose between two communities, six in 10 prospective homebuyers chose the neighborhood that offered sidewalks and amenities like shops, restaurants, libraries, schools, and public transportation within walking distance over a sprawling community with limited options for walking.

Physical Fitness Linked to Fewer Doctor Visits
Physically fit men visited their doctors less frequently and had fewer overnight hospital stays, according to a long-term study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. Researchers compared the cardiorespiratory fitness level to the incidence of medical treatments in 6,679 healthy men. Study participants who improved their fitness had a reduction in overnight hospital stays.

Fitness Trend Predictions for 2005
The American Council on Exercise predicts a “back to the basics” approach with time-efficient workouts. What’s in store for 2005?

• Balance training activities, such as yoga, Tai Chi, and pilates, and balance equipment are among the fastest growing and most popular exercise options.
• Shorter duration workouts are in demand.
• Employers are offering wellness programs that encourage physical activity.
• More families are looking for diverse and creative ways to participate together in outdoor adventure activities and recreational sports.

www.acefitness.org

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The Blueprint Partners Project is an initiative of the Active Aging Partnership. For more information, contact the National Blueprint Office at the University of Illinois Department of Kinesiology, 350 Freer Hall, 906 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL 61801.
E-Mail: blueprint@kines.uiuc.edu
Phone: (217) 244-7122
Website: www.agingblueprint.org