50 AND HEALTHY!Goal:

Katherine Chen / @kchen247

50+Healthy

50+Healthy

She’s not the only one in that situation.

I surveyed 42 parents, ages 46 - 65.

7 had high cholesterol6 had high blood pressure5 had high cholesterol and blood pressure4 were overweight3 had body pains and aches1 had diabetes1 had depression1 had a heart attack in 2006

That’s 28 people, 67%, with a health condition who don’t feel healthy.

67%

21%

12%

Fairly healthyVery healthyExisting health issues

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.

That’s 28 people, 67%, with a health condition who don’t feel healthy.

67%

21%

12%

Fairly healthyVery healthyExisting health issues

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.

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

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

But for fun, they enjoy...yoga, zumba, dancing, hiking, tennis, swimming, golf, kickboxing, biking, and gardening.

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

EXERCISE FUN

Key to longevity?

Hypothesis:Older adults are only exploring traditional types of exercise, like walking, stretching, and weight lifting.

If we introduce them to activities not seen as traditional exercise, they are more likely to exercise more often.

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.

Walking

Hiking

Yoga

Dancing

Zumba

Meditation

The winner?

The winner?

60% RSVP’ed

YES:More funExercise, enjoy the scenery and meet new peopleI will join if I have the timeIt sounds like a good opportunity to meet peopleEasy form of non-impact exercise & socialI enjoy walking with other peopleI would love to. The more moral support the better.I like to walkenjoy sceneryEnjoy walkingeasy going none performance based fun

Takeaways:Would be fun to meet new people and share moral support. Non-impact exercise. Can enjoy the scenery.

Runner up:

58% RSVP’ed

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 FloridaInterested in ball room dancingWould love to learn to Salsa dance with my wife.Same reason: great opportunity to have fun and meet peopleI can still "cut the rug" or at least think I can.Love dancing & socialI enjoy dancing and would allow to be with other people.Invite gave out more info of what to expect.Love to dancelearn to dancea chance to exercise while learning to dance.sounds very funit sounds funSounds fun

Takeaways:Love to dance, fun, meet new people.Would go if significant other went as well.

Runner up:

58% RSVP’ed

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 chiI've tried it before and enjoyed the activityHave done some tai chi before and again good form of non-impact exercise for body & mindThe type of activity deals with the flow of energy in the bodyGood 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.

Why not...

Why not...can’t keep up

more for women

unsure of level of fitness required

more of a novelty,not something i would do regularly

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.

3 LOWs:

LOW COSTLOW HASSLELOW PRESSURE TO PERFORM

EXERCISE FUN

Key to longevity!

LOW COST, LOW HASSLE, LOW PRESSURE.

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.

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.

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

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

Thank you!I’d love to hear your thoughts:

kchen12@stanford.edu

Katherine Chen / @kchen247