Weight Status and Sedentary Behavior of Alzheimer's Disease Caregivers

Am J Health Behav. 2020 Jan 1;44(1):3-12. doi: 10.5993/AJHB.44.1.1.

Abstract

Objectives: In this study, we sought to characterize the weight status, sedentary behavior, and physical activity of caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Methods: In 2014, we surveyed caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease from the South Carolina Alzheimer's Disease Registry (N = 47) about their personal health behaviors. Additionally, a subset of individuals (N = 14) wore an accelerometer for 7 days. Results: Caregivers (N = 47) were mostly overweight or obese (85%) and self-reported a daily average sedentary time of 246.5 ± 203.0 minutes and 455.8 ± 291.4 minutes, as measured by 2 questionnaires. Objective measures indicated that persons spent an average of 769.4 ± 167.6 minutes per day (77.8% of their waking day) engaged in sedentary behavior. Conclusion: Given the negative health outcomes associated with both obesity and sedentary behavior, this is a vulnerable population that likely would benefit from interventions focused on weight management and reducing sedentary behavior.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Accelerometry
  • Aged
  • Alzheimer Disease*
  • Body Weight*
  • Caregivers*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Sedentary Behavior*
  • Self Report
  • South Carolina