Abstract des Autors

This article deals with health aspects of physical activity in youth and elderly people and comparisons and differences between both age-categories. There are trends in physical activity: physical activity in youth is declining and especially at the age of fifteen physical inactivity becomes a severe problem. With ageing the physical activity patterns, especially sports participation, decreases. Physical activity has different significances in different age categories. In youth physical activity behaviour is developed. There are signs that a tracking effect of physical activity exists. There are similarities and differences in health effects of physical activity in youth compared to the elderly. Both in youth and at older age several health risk factors may already develop (e.g. overweight and hypertension); physical activity may prevent the onset of these risk factors. Physical activity is also associated with health related chronic diseases, such as coronary heart diseases, osteoporosis and diabetes mellitus type II. In youth physical activity is especially related to the development of the body and body functions, whereas in the elderly it is related to the prevention of ageing problems (such as decrease of strength, aerobic power and bone density). Verf.-Referat