Due to a rapdily increasing ageing population, health promotion for the elderly is becoming an increasingly important issue in public policy and planning. This book examines the challenges presented by an ageing global population, our varying expectations of healthy ageing, and the importance of exercise and physical activity for the elderly.

Introduction PART A: Importance of Culture, Community, and the Impact of Well-Being in the Aging Process 1. The Social and Cultural Context of Well-Being and Physical Activity in Later Life in the USA 2. The Active Ageing Paradigm and Physical Activity of Older People in Germany 3. Global Aging in Portugal 4. Functional characteristics of older adults in Mexico and Latin America: health promotion programs 5. Aging in Ghana: A Public Health and Cultural Perspective PART B: Effects of Physical Activity and Exercise on the Aging Population 6. Aging and Health Promotion In Brazil 7. Healthy Aging in Cuba through Physical Activity 8. Aging and Fitness Programs: Influencing Factors, Professional Intervention, and Challenges in Spain 9. Physical Activity, Health, and Body Image of Older Adults in the Czech Republic 10. Active and Fit While Climbing the Ladder of Life: Physical Activity in Old Age in the Young Country Israel 11. Aging, Health, and Physical Activity in Iran PART C: Chronic Conditions and the Impact of Physical Activity and Exercise 12. Coping with Chronic Illness in the Twenty-First Century: the Global Diabetes Crisis 13. Education, Physical Activity, and Healthy Aging in Italy: Theoretical and Operating Dimensions 14. Achieving Active and Healthy Aging in Sri Lanka Conclusion