A compelling case for heart-healthy recreation: Building community spaces that encourage activity can reduce chronic disease risk for older adults
A core health fact remains: high blood pressure is a leading trigger for heart attacks and strokes. It’s even more prevalent among older adults, particularly Black seniors. Regular physical activity helps lower blood pressure and strengthens heart health. One reason for the higher rates in older Black adults is limited access to safe places to move and to companionship during activity. Behavioral epidemiologist and health behavior researcher Martha Kubik notes that when recreational options are available in familiar, community-centered settings, older Black adults not only participate more, but higher engagement also correlates with lower blood pressure.
“We found that if resources exist, older Black adults will take advantage of exercise opportunities offered at places where seniors already gather—such as senior centers and other community sites that participate in congregate meal programs,” Kubik, a professor at George Mason University’s School of Nursing, explained.
As the U.S. population ages—projections suggest the number of people 65 and older will top 73 million, about 21% of the population by 2030—the role of supporting active lifestyles becomes essential for cardiovascular health. Kubik’s study focused on older Black adults in Washington, D.C., who participated in congregate meal programs at senior centers, parks and recreation facilities, and public housing. The findings showed that activity levels tracked with the resources available at these venues, with the most exercise reported at senior centers offering daily programs, equipment, and instructors. In parallel, increases in physical activity were linked to lower blood pressure.
Kubik emphasized the potential for community sites that host congregate meals to broaden their offerings and regularly host physical activity opportunities that encourage older adults toward a more active lifestyle. This strategy could be especially impactful for older Black adults.
The study, Physical Activity, Blood Pressure, and Community Dining Sites: A Cohort Study of Older Black Adults in Congregate Meal Programs, was published in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities in August 2025. It was funded by the National Foundation to End Senior Hunger.
About the author
Kubik is a professor in the School of Nursing. She is a behavioral epidemiologist and advanced practice nurse whose work centers on health behavior and promoting healthy lifestyles across the lifespan, with a focus on health promotion and disease prevention for lower-income and minoritized populations. Her research spans childhood obesity, adolescent health, and health promotion and disease prevention among older adults.
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