New research suggests that health interventions to increase exercise in older people could be more successful with age differentiation.

Researchers at Northumbria University found that health interventions were more effective if they differentiated between people aged 65 to 79 years old and those older than 80 years old.

"There may have been a tendency to see all those aged over 65 as one homogenous group when it is clear there are significant differences. With our aging population it's vital that new health messages aiming to promote exercise to older adults must tailor their information so it takes in to account the differences between 'young' older adults and 'older' older adults," Dr. Mark Moss, who led the study, said in a statement. "Furthermore, it is essential that we recognize the importance of individual differences in motivators and barriers to exercise so that personalized programs can be designed. One size does not fit all!"

For the study, researchers collected data from more than 100 participants aged 65 to 95 completed questionnaires about their current health and wellbeing, vitality, motivation to exercise and barriers to exercise.

Age was shown to have the biggest influence on both motivators and barriers to exercise. Individual factors such as health constraints, a negative mind-set, social constraints and age appropriateness were all contributing factors to the amount of exercise undertaken.

The findings will be presented at the Annual Conference of the British Psychology Society being held in Liverpool on Thursday.