Differences in physical activity between seasons with and without snowfall among elderly individuals residing in areas that receive snowfall.

The study included 35 volunteers aged 50 years or older from one Japanese city, so it may not apply to people who are less healthy, younger, older, or living elsewhere. Participants were measured only in September and February, so the study cannot describe all seasons or long-term patterns. The design was observational, so weather and season are associated with lower activity, but the study cannot prove that snowfall caused the reduction. The average number of days wearing the accelerometer differed between seasons (28.3 days in February and 29.1 days in September), which could affect comparisons. The one-axis accelerometer has lower accuracy for less intensive activities such as housework, so some daily movement may have been missed. The study did not include enough lifestyle or psychological factors, so other reasons for seasonal changes cannot be ruled out.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest relevant to this article. The supplied text does not state who funded the study.

Do not conclude that snowfall caused older adults to be less active. The study found seasonal differences and weather correlations in a small observational sample, and self-reported going out and exercise frequency did not differ; snowfall was positively correlated with steps before adjustment and not significant in regression.