An elderly person happily jogging in a surreal, vibrant landscape, symbolizing the positive impact of fitness on reducing medication needs.

Move More, Medicate Less: How Fitness Impacts Medication Needs in Older Adults

Mira Elwood in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how staying active can reduce medication costs and improve mood in your later years."

As the global population ages, understanding how to maintain health and well-being in later life becomes increasingly critical. The World Health Organization projects a significant rise in the number of people over 60, highlighting the need for effective strategies to support healthy aging.

One key factor in healthy aging is physical functional fitness (FF), which encompasses the ability to perform daily activities safely and independently. Research increasingly demonstrates the connection between physical activity levels and various health outcomes, including the number of medications an individual uses.

A recent study investigated the relationship between functional fitness, mood, and medication costs in elderly individuals. This article explores the study's findings, revealing how better fitness, particularly cardiorespiratory fitness, can lead to reduced medication consumption and improved emotional well-being.

Fitness, Mood, and Medication: Unpacking the Connection

An elderly person happily jogging in a surreal, vibrant landscape, symbolizing the positive impact of fitness on reducing medication needs.

The study, conducted with 229 seniors (65+) at a residential institution in Portugal, assessed participants' functional fitness using the Senior Fitness Test, a widely recognized tool. Mood states were evaluated using the Profile of Mood States – Short Form (POMS-SF), which measures various emotional states like tension, depression, vigor, and fatigue. Researchers also gathered data on the annual cost of each participant's regularly consumed medications, based on records from their family physicians.

The findings revealed a significant inverse correlation between cardiorespiratory fitness and medication costs. In other words, seniors with better aerobic endurance tended to have lower annual medication expenses. Functional fitness was also inversely associated with negative mood states, suggesting that fitter individuals experienced a more positive emotional outlook.

Aerobic Fitness: Better aerobic endurance was linked to lower medication costs.
Mood: Higher levels of fitness correlated with more positive mood states.
Medication Costs: Seniors with lower aerobic endurance had higher medication consumption costs and greater mood deterioration.

Specifically, the study found that participants in the lowest fitness quintile (walking only 176 meters on average) had both the highest total mood disturbance (TMD) scores and the highest medication costs. In contrast, those in the highest fitness quintile (walking 597 meters on average) had the lowest TMD scores and the lowest medication costs. Those in higher quintiles spent significantly less (28-46%) on medication.

Empowering Seniors Through Fitness: A Path to Better Health and Lower Costs

This research underscores the importance of physical fitness, particularly aerobic endurance, in promoting healthy aging. By maintaining an active lifestyle, older adults can potentially reduce their reliance on medication and improve their overall well-being.

These findings suggest that encouraging physical activity among seniors should be a public health priority. Interventions aimed at improving functional fitness could lead to significant cost savings in healthcare and enhance the quality of life for older adults.

While this study provides valuable insights, further research is needed to explore these relationships in diverse populations and settings. Nevertheless, the message is clear: staying active is a powerful tool for maintaining health, reducing medication needs, and fostering a positive mood in later life.

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1590/1806-9282.60.03.007, Alternate LINK

Title: Relationship Between Functional Fitness, Medication Costs And Mood In Elderly People

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira

Publisher: FapUNIFESP (SciELO)

Authors: Michelli Luciana Massolini Laureano, Raul Agostinho Martins, Nuno M. Sousa, Aristides M. Machado-Rodrigues, João Valente-Santos, Manoel João Coelho-E-Silva

Published: 2014-06-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is the Senior Fitness Test?

The Senior Fitness Test is a widely recognized tool used to assess functional fitness in elderly individuals. This test, utilized in the study, helps evaluate the ability of seniors to perform daily activities safely and independently. The study used the Senior Fitness Test in a residential institution in Portugal for the 229 seniors who participated. The findings of the test were pivotal in revealing a connection between physical fitness, mood, and medication costs.

What is the Profile of Mood States – Short Form (POMS-SF), and how was it used?

The Profile of Mood States – Short Form (POMS-SF) is a tool that measures various emotional states, including tension, depression, vigor, and fatigue. In the study, this was used to evaluate the mood states of the seniors. The study found a connection between the participants' mood and their physical fitness. It showed that individuals with better Functional Fitness experienced more positive emotional outlooks. Conversely, those with lower Aerobic Fitness had greater mood deterioration.

What is functional fitness, and why is it important?

Functional fitness refers to the ability to perform daily activities safely and independently. The research indicates a strong correlation between physical activity levels and various health outcomes, including the number of medications an individual uses. Maintaining Functional Fitness, especially Aerobic Fitness, can potentially reduce reliance on medication and improve overall well-being in elderly individuals, helping them maintain their independence and quality of life.

How does Aerobic Fitness impact medication costs?

Aerobic Fitness, often referred to as cardiorespiratory fitness, is the capacity of the circulatory and respiratory systems to supply oxygen during sustained physical activity. The study revealed that better Aerobic Fitness was significantly linked to lower medication costs. It was observed that seniors with better Aerobic Endurance tended to have lower annual medication expenses. Those in the highest fitness quintile, who walked an average of 597 meters, had the lowest TMD scores and the lowest medication costs, highlighting the direct positive impact of Aerobic Fitness.

What was the relationship between fitness and medication costs in the study?

The study revealed a significant correlation between fitness levels and medication costs. It demonstrated that higher levels of Aerobic Fitness correlated with lower annual medication expenses. The findings highlighted an inverse relationship: Seniors in the lowest fitness quintile had the highest medication costs. In contrast, those in the highest fitness quintile spent significantly less (28-46%) on medication. This underscores the financial benefits of maintaining an active lifestyle as an older adult, showing how improved fitness can lead to better health and lower healthcare costs.