Key Messages. 1  Older adults, both male and female, can benefit from regular physical activity. 2  Physical activity need not be strenuous to achieve health benefits. 3  Older adults can obtain significant health benefits with a moderate amount of physical activity, preferably daily. A moderate amount of activity can be obtained in longer sessions of moderately intense activities (such as walking) or in shorter sessions of more vigorous activities (such as fast walking or stairwalking).