The document discusses encouraging older adults ages 50+ to adopt healthier lifestyles through physical activity. A survey found many adults had health issues but were not making lifestyle changes. The document explores introducing adults to unconventional, fun physical activities that have low costs, are low hassle, and have low performance pressure. These include dancing, meditation/tai chi, and hiking in addition to traditional activities like walking. Conclusions are that walking has benefits of being free and flexible, dancing provides pure fun in a social, low-pressure environment, and meditation can benefit the mind and body with minimal instruction. Next steps proposed are piloting walking groups, promoting free dance lessons, and using Meetup.com to find enjoyable activities.

1. Goal:
50 AND HEALTHY!
Katherine Chen / kchen12@stanford.edu

2. 50+
Healthy

3. That was Lydia. She’s 59, works a 9-5 office
job, and has high-blood pressure and high
cholesterol.
She walks the family dog about once a
week...and that’s about it.
She’s also my mom.

4. That was Lydia. She’s 59, works a 9-5 office job,
and has high-blood pressure and high
cholesterol.
She walks the family dog about once a
week...and that’s about it.
She’s also my mom.

5. She’s not the only one in that situation.
I surveyed 42 parents, ages 46 - 65.
7 had high cholesterol
6 had high blood pressure
5 had high cholesterol and blood pressure
4 were overweight
3 had body pains and aches
1 had diabetes
1 had depression
1 had a heart attack in 2006

6. That’s 28 people, 67%, with a health
condition who don’t feel healthy.
Fairly healthy
Very healthy
12% Existing health issues
21%
67%

7. But instead of making lifestyle changes to
fight those conditions, they are taking
prescription medications and maintaining the
same diet and level of exercise.

8. Insight #1:
Medicine is an effective fix for conditions like
high cholesterol. Unfortunately, it becomes a
short-term replacement for changes to diet
and exercise.
How might we encourage older adults to
solve the problem and not the effect?

9. On average, those 28 people are doing 30
minutes or more of physical activity 2.2 days
a week.
But they’d like to do so 5.6 days a week.

10. “Help
BJ Fogg once said,
people do what
they already
want to do.”

11. For exercise, survey participants currently...
walk, jog, gym, lift weights, and garden.

12. But they also enjoy...
yoga, zumba, hiking, tennis, swimming, golf,
kickboxing, and biking.

13. Insight #2:
“Dancing isn’t exercise, it’s fun.”

14. Key to longevity?
EXERCISE FUN

15. Hypothesis:
Older adults are only exploring traditional
types of exercise, like walking, stretching,
and weight lifting.
If we introduce them to unconventional
activities, they are more likely to exercise
more often.

16. Test trial:
I copied messaging for 6 real events on
Meetup.com and asked study participants to
RSVP to ones they would like to attend.

17. Test trial:
I copied messaging for 6 real events on
Meetup.com and asked study participants to
RSVP to ones they would like to attend.

18. Trial gives us information on:
Activity preferences
Interest in social component
Level of comfort with online group
organization site like Meetup.com

19. Walking: Yes
Maybe
No
0 4.25 8.5 12.75 17

20. YES:
More fun
Exercise, enjoy the scenery and meet new people
I will join if I have the time
It sounds like a good opportunity to meet people
Easy form of non-impact exercise & social
I enjoy walking with other people
I would love to. The more moral support the better.
I like to walk
enjoy scenery
Enjoy walking
easy going none performance based fun
Takeaways:
Would be fun to meet new people and share
moral support. Non-impact exercise. Can
enjoy the scenery.

21. MAYBE:
Depends on the group's common interests and goal to get out of the activities and atmosphere.
Prefer walking or hiking with spouse or alone
A little skeptical about meeting people over the internet. Maybe if everyone met in a large group in a public place first.
Depends on the people. Do they look like, fun, sucessful, healthy, attractive people....or losers.
Similar interest... But I don't know these people.
depends on my time
time constraints
Group is pretty large but I guess if your goal is to meet people would be good.
I am usually busy with work or family on the weekends. Depends on my schedule.
I don't have enough time to participate. Should be an activity for the hole family on Sundays afternoons. (and my family should agree to do it)
Depends on my schedule, if it was convenient. Also I don't like the heat so in the warm months, I prefer to go outside at 6 AM to garden. Hard to find groups
of earlybird recreational walkers.
Takeaways:
Depends on the people and my schedule.

22. NO:
I walk very slowly and would be unable to keep up.
I enjoy hiking to relax and not interested in interacting with others during this activity.
Because of my schedule which is determined by my performance schedule, it difficult to commit to a group activity.
A little skeptical about meeting people over the internet. Maybe if everyone met in a large group in a public place first.
Want to do exercise on my own time
Typically workout early mornings on my own schedule which can sometimes be random.
I like to walk very quickly to get aerobic exercise and I find most recreational walkers go too slowly for me
I like to walk in silence
strangers can do strange things
Don't like to exersize in a group
I live to far away
Prefer to walk alone and think.
due to tight schedule
I am not comfortable meeting new people
no time
just not interested
Takeaways:
Want to walk at my own pace, prefer solo
activity, can’t commit because of time
schedule, not comfortable meeting new
people.

23. Hiking:
Yes
Maybe
No
0 7.5 15 22.5 30

24. YES:
Scenic and limited time and duration
Exercise, view, and company could be interesting
I like hiking as long as it is a trail that has varying degrees.
Good experience. Attend the Golden Gate Bridge's 50 yr anniversary walk across the bridge but it was too crowded. Couldn't walk across.
meet people
Sounds like fun
I like hiking and there is no mention of meeting new people so it takes the pressure off.
Sounds interest
If my schedule allowed, it would be fun to walk on the Golden Gate Bridge.
Takeaways:
Interested in the novelty of the activity itself.

25. MAYBE:
It provides full description for the 'level' of walking. It is also a plus for the social event to be optional - flexible and not easygoing atmosphere would be a plus
for me.
Sounds great but the first day of the year I may be tired and also I don't know if I have the level of resistance needed
Sounds like a good "plan" but what is the profile of people attending? Teenagers, retirees, singles, families?
Love GGB and the great scenery in that area.
Seems to be interesting and fun if not taking care of the date. For me is a family date.
time constraints
If I was already part of the group but maybe not for a first outing.
Takeaways:
Time constraints. Social pressure. Who else is
attending? Uncertainty of level of fitness
required.

26. NO:
too strenuous
Too far from my residence
Don't want to spend time with strangers
Like to do stuff like this with own family
Similar to previous answer -- when hiking, like it either to be very vigorous for exercise or to a destination that I am especially interested in. When I do things
for social purposes, I would rather be with small group of friends
Too far from home
San Franfreeko is a scary, but beautiful city.
too far
I don't live in the city
prefer to go in smaller group or with spouse
I work that day
I am working
too far
I will be out of town.
Out of town that day
Too crowded
no time
Takeaways:
Too far from home, prefer to hike with family,
spouse, or small group of friends.

27. Yoga:
Yes
Maybe
No
Test trial:
0 7.5 15 22.5 30

28. YES:
Always wanted to try yoga but didn't know best way to start
Love Yoga.....and Yoga is kind of an individual type thing so it doesn't matter who is there.
Enjoyed yoga the few times I participated.
Heard yoga was good forn of non-impact exercise and want to learn more
This would assist with my back problem.
Sounds interesting
love yoga
I've never taken a Vinyasa yoga class and I would it to try it epecially since it's free
Takeaways:
Would be fun to meet new people and share
moral support. Non-impact exercise. Can
enjoy the scenery.

29. MAYBE:
Not too enticing as it sounds more commercial and promotional than a community building low-key exercise opportunity. One would see that sort of posting
in Daily Candy or Groupon.
time constraints
willing to do yoga in a group with an instructor
My wife would enjoy it. Have not tried yoga myself.
Takeaways:
Possible female bias.

30. NO:
too far from home
I would like to have a flexible schedule
Not interested in yoga
I do a specific type of yoga: Trul Khor (tibetan) and I'm not interested in another type
Don't like yoga
Not into this exercise
I do not like to do yoga at stores
Yoga sucks
I don't like yoga.
don't like yoga
Not a yoga practitioner
too far. If it were in my neighborhood, yes.
no time
where is this?
A little odd
Takeaways:
Some people have 0 interest in yoga. If they
were to try, it’d have to be nearby.

31. Dancing:
Yes
Maybe
No
0 4 8 12 16

32. YES:
I love to dance but I don't have a partner so because this class doesn't require to have one is just perfect for me except I live in Florida
Interested in ball room dancing
Would love to learn to Salsa dance with my wife.
Same reason: great opportunity to have fun and meet people
I can still "cut the rug" or at least think I can.
Love dancing & social
I enjoy dancing and would allow to be with other people.
Invite gave out more info of what to expect.
Love to dance
learn to dance
a chance to exercise while learning to dance.sounds very fun
it sounds fun
Sounds fun
Takeaways:
Love to dance, fun, meet new people.

33. MAYBE:
Always wanted to learn how to ballroom dance
it might be fun to learn something new
I will go if my husband goes too.
i like dancing, but not familiar with the venu
time constraints
If my husband would go with me I would attend
Takeaways:
Would go if significant other went as well.

34. NO:
I dont dance
Not coordinated or interested in this activity
Not a dancer...I have no interest in learning.
spouse would not be interested
distance to event
can't dance
I am not a dancer.
Don't like dance
Takeaways:
0 interest or 0 ability.

35. Zumba:
Yes
Maybe
No
0 5 10 15 20

36. YES:
I can use the exercise
Curious to learn more
Who doesn't like free.
As long as it's free, I will attend. Have tried it before.
good exercise
fun
want to try it
Takeaways:
Would be fun to try it as long as it’s free.

37. MAYBE:
Again, it might be fun to try something new -- would probably go if it fit with schedule
time constraints
might be fun?
I've taken zumba classes before and I don't like them (too choreographed - I spend too much time trying to learn the dance and don't feel like I am getting a
good workout) but I would try this one becasue it's free
Takeaways:
Might go because it’s free.

38. NO:
too strenuous
I dont dance in a group
No dancing....sorry.
Don't like zumba
Uncoordinated
Not a Zumba fanatic
Too many Zumba show offs!
I'm not ready for Zumba yet. Need to start with something calmer and easier.
Curious to learn more
To hard on the lower back
I am not a dancer.
Not my cup of tea
Have tried Zumba and didn't care for it, but if I hadn't tried it before, the event seems like a no cost way to try it.
Takeaways:
0 interest or 0 ability. Too strenuous.

39. Meditation / Tai Chi:
Yes
Maybe
No
0 4 8 12 16

40. YES:
It's probably a good pace for me.
Enjoy meditation and slower pace and calmer exercise. But if it were too much of an incent burning meditation, that would turn my interest off.
Interested in Tai Chi.
always wanted to try tai chi
I've tried it before and enjoyed the activity
Have done some tai chi before and again good form of non-impact exercise for body & mind
The type of activity deals with the flow of energy in the body
Good especially if you are just beginning.
I wish it would be in my area.
Learning Tai chi now.
always wanted to learn Tai Chi.
I've never taken a tai chi class and would like to try it.
I like Tai Chi.
Takeaways:
Would enjoy slower pace. Have always
wanted to try. Good for body and mind.

41. MAYBE:
Curious about but not certain I would want to do it.
Sound interesting.
Maybe interested.
I should learn more about these activities, but I like when I see usually Asian people practicing it in the public parks. It seems to be something very rhythmic,
interesting, free, and democratic.
sometimes ok
time constraints
would need instruction but interested in learning tai chi
Takeaways:
Interesting. Interested in learning.

42. NO:
Tried matial arts before and not too crazy about it. Like kick boxing exercise classes though.
Too slow of an exercise
Not into this
distance to the event
not intested
Too busy with others
Takeaways:
0 interest. Too slow of a pace.

43. Insight #3:
Traditional activities are done not for lack of
creativity, but because of low cost,
convenience, and a low barrier to entry in
terms of ability.

44. 3 LOWs:
LOW COST
LOW HASSLE
LOW PRESSURE TO
PERFORM

45. Key to longevity!
EXERCISE FUN
LOW COST, LOW HASSLE, LOW PRESSURE.

46. Conclusion:
Walking may not sound exotic or exciting but
it is free, flexible to schedule, can be social,
and is not high pressure to perform.

47. Conclusion:
Dancing = pure fun. It seems to be more of a
social skill than an exercise skill, one that
older adults are eager to learn in a low-
pressure environment. The existing
infrastructure of free community dance
nights makes this activity more cost-effective
in the long run.

48. Conclusion:
Activities like meditation require instruction
for beginners but even a one-touch training
session can have lasting impact, on the mind
and body.

49. Next steps:
Piloting walking groups in workplaces and
neighborhoods
Raising awareness of free dance community
lessons and dance nights, get buy-in from
spouse or close friend
Introducing people to the meetup.com
platform, empowering people to find
activities they enjoy

50. Thank you!
I’d love to hear your thoughts:
kchen12@stanford.edu
Katherine Chen / @kchen247