Exercise Participation and Health Promotion in Active Seniors in Aging Societies: Keys to Successful Aging

SOOJIN CHOI^1*Fang Zheng²Seung-Man Lee^3*

• ¹Education Department, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
• ²Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
• ³Hankyong National University, Anseongsi, Republic of Korea

As populations age worldwide, promoting health and autonomy in later life has become a shared policy imperative. Using data from the 2023 National Survey on Physical Activity, we analyzed 1,729 physically active older adults in South Korea to examine how exercise participation and co-occurring health behaviors relate to reported gains and, ultimately, perceived health and fitness status. Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and multiple regression were employed. Regular diet and nutritional supplementation, together with abstinence from alcohol and smoking, were consistently associated with greater perceived assistance in daily activities and lower healthcare costs. In contrast, regular physical activity and adequate rest showed no associations with most positive outcomes; a modest positive association was observed only for perceived reductions in healthcare costs. Self-reported outcomes—especially help with daily activities and reduced healthcare costs—were, in turn, linked to higher perceived health and fitness status. These findings suggest that, within already active seniors, integrated lifestyle strategies emphasizing dietary management and substance abstinence may yield more salient advantages than activity alone. Policy and practice should therefore complement exercise promotion with nutrition support and cessation programs, and leverage community sports-club infrastructures to sustain these behaviors in aging societies.