Are Older Adults without a Healthy Diet Less Physically Active and More Sedentary?

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Limited research examines combined energy balance behaviors in older adults.
• Understanding physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) in relation to diet is crucial for aging populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare PA and SB patterns between older adults with and without healthy diets.
• To investigate both subjective and objective measures of PA and SB.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 127 Taiwanese older adults (mean age 69.9 years).
• Assessed PA and SB using objective (activity monitors) and subjective (questionnaires) methods.
• Analyzed data using chi-square and independent sample t-tests.

Main Results:

• Older adults without healthy diets reported less leisure PA and more sitting time (subjective).
• Objectively, they exhibited less light PA, more total sedentary time, and longer/more frequent sedentary bouts.
• Both measurement methods indicated a more inactive and sedentary lifestyle in those with unhealthy diets.

Conclusions:

• Diet quality is associated with physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns in older adults.
• Findings underscore the link between diet and lifestyle behaviors, informing public health interventions.
• Tailored interventions are needed to promote healthier energy balance-related behaviors in community-dwelling older adults.