# Do publicly funded community physical activity programs for middle-aged and older adults in Ireland work?

## TL;DR

This study evaluates the effectiveness of publicly funded physical activity programs for older adults in Ireland, finding positive effects on physical activity levels but mixed results on other health outcomes.

## Contribution

The study provides new evidence on the effectiveness of real-world physical activity programs for older adults in Ireland using a pragmatic, cluster randomised feasibility trial.

## Key findings

- Positive program effects were found on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary time for specific programs.
- Self-reported physical activity improved across all programs, but body composition outcomes showed no significant changes.
- Only the Men on the Move program significantly improved mental well-being.

## Abstract

To strengthen practice-based evidence, pragmatic, yet rigorous, evaluation of real-world programs is necessary. This study sought to add to the evidence for the effectiveness of physical activity programs for middle-aged and older adults offered by publicly funded local sports partnerships (LSPs) in Ireland. We analysed data from 468 individuals aged 50 + years, who took part in the Move for Life cluster randomised feasibility trial. Outcomes were accelerometer-based moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), light intensity physical activity (LiPA), standing time, and sedentary time; self-reported compliance with physical activity guidelines, body composition, physical function, and mental well-being. LSP programs included Women on Wheels/Bike for Life, Go for Life Games, Get Ireland Walking, and Men on the Move. We used a difference-in-differences approach to estimate program effects. We found evidence of positive program effects on accelerometer-derived MVPA (Women on Wheels/Bike for Life, Get Ireland Walking), LiPA (Go for Life Games), and sedentary time (Women on Wheels/Bike for Life, Go for Life Games) (p < .05), plus evidence of positive effects on self-reported physical activity for all LSP programs (p < .05). We did not find evidence of program effects on body composition. Outcomes related to physical function were mixed. Men on the Move was the only program where mental well-being scores increased significantly relative to the control group. Despite sample size limitations, the results support the effectiveness of LSP programs over a 6-month period, notably in terms of energy expenditure outcomes, while identifying areas for improvement regarding outcomes related to body composition, physical function and, particularly, mental well-being.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10433-025-00847-z.