Today Tivity Health® (Nasdaq: TVTY) announced the results of a new study published in the journal Quality of Life Research, which found that increasing frequency of participation in a fitness program improves physical and mental health for older adults.
| NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Tivity Health® (Nasdaq: TVTY) announced the results of a new study published in the journal Quality of Life Research, which found that increasing frequency of participation in a fitness program improves physical and mental health for older adults. The longitudinal study surveyed 46,564 members of SilverSneakers®, the nation’s leading community fitness program for older Americans, over a seven-year period. The study tested how the health of SilverSneakers members was impacted by how many times each week they participated in the SilverSneakers program, using three standard industry measurement scales of physical and mental health.
When SilverSneakers members increased the frequency of their participation in physical activity programs over time, they saw significant improvements in their physical and mental health and decreased the number of days per month when they felt physically or mentally unhealthy. The study found that if seniors visiting a fitness center increased their visits to three times per week from one day per week, they would experience a monthly average of 1.4 fewer physically unhealthy days and almost 0.5 fewer mentally unhealthy days, dramatically improving their quality of life and health outcomes. “We know that physical activity and social engagement are important social determinants of health and this study demonstrates how a program like SilverSneakers can affect a senior’s quality of life,” said Steve Janicak, President, Healthcare Business Unit, Tivity Health. “This study provides direct evidence that participation in a fitness program can improve health outcomes over time, which we know is important for those health plans who are working to improve the overall health of their members and lower healthcare costs.” The three standard industry measurement scales used in the study were the (1) 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), (2) Self-Rated Health and (3) Healthy Days measures from the Centers for Disease Control, and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. In addition to measuring mental and physical health and resulting quality of life, the three scales are all important predictors of healthcare utilization and medical costs. “An unfortunate health risk in the United States is the dangerously low level of physical activity, and the adverse health effects of inactivity become more apparent as people age,” said Elizabeth Rula, Ph.D., executive director of research at Tivity Health and one of the study’s authors. “Life expectancy in America continues to increase as the number of Americans 65 years and older reaches unprecedented levels in the coming decades. It’s a critical public health goal to maintain and improve the quality of life for an aging population.” Research shows that increasing the SF-12 score by a single point (on a 100-point scale) can significantly reduce the risk of readmission, hospitalization and mortality, while a 10-point improvement reduces the risk of readmission by 18 percent1, dramatically lowering healthcare costs. Experiencing between one and ten physically or mentally unhealthy day each month can increase the risk of hospitalization by 70 to 80 percent2. About SilverSneakers About Tivity Health 1 Soley-Bori, M., Soria-Saucedo, R., Ryan, C.M. et al. J Gen Intern Med (2015) 30: 965 2 Dominick, K.L., Ahern, F.M., Gold, C.H. et al. Aging Clin Exp Res (2002) 14: 499
SOURCE Tivity Health | ||
Company Codes: NASDAQ-NMS:TVTY |
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