Researchers at Flinders University are seeking older adults (60 to 69 years) to participate in the ‘Fit to Work’ Study.

The ability of Australians to remain in the workforce is directly linked to health, with poor health often a contributing factor I early retirement.

With the proposed government increase in the retirement age, is it important to examine the relationships between physical fitness, health risk factors and employment.

Despite increases in life expectancy, many older Australians suffer chronic conditions and report poor health.

The most recent, and only, normative population data on the physical working capacity and physical fitness of Australian adults was collected 25 years ago. The ‘Fit to Work’ study will directly measure the health-related fitness and physical working capacity of older Australians.

Researchers will:

• Examine the relationships between fitness, chronic disease risk factors and employment status
• Establish a contemporary normative database on health related fitness parameters for Australian adults 60-69 years.

This data will be used to quantify and understand the way in which human physical working capacity and health-related fitness are being impacted by contemporary lifestyles.

It will also provide benchmarks to determine population proportions physically capable of remaining in various types of employment.

Please contact the Principal Investigator, Dr Lynda Norton for further information, or to express interest in the study on 8201 5830 or at Lynda.norton@flinders.edu.au