Health authorities increasingly emphasize the essential role of physical activity (PA) and nutrition as key determinants of healthy aging. In this context, preventive measures are being implemented at the local level to promote the adoption of health-enhancing behaviors.

The ALAPAGE program aimed to improve dietary diversity and physical capacity in community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and older. It was evaluated through an intervention research study of the same name, with a control arm (n = 122 participants, across 12 groups) and an intervention arm (n = 257 participants, across 26 groups). The program was co-developed between 2019 and 2021, based on existing prevention workshops. The intervention research was conducted between 2022 and 2024, in collaboration with organizations that typically run such workshops (retirement funds and mutual insurance federations), within 26 community centers (e.g., neighborhood centers in direct contact with older adults). Participants in the intervention arm attended 8 ALAPAGE sessions alongside the scientific evaluation, while those in the control arm participated in 4 scientific evaluation sessions and 2 social activities unrelated to the program theme (a convivial snack and a zero-waste workshop). After the study, the control group also attended 7 ALAPAGE sessions. This article presents the medical-economic evaluation of the program, which measures both its effectiveness and its cost.

An improvement in dietary diversity scores was observed, all other factors being equal: Scores were higher at the three-month follow-up after the study, with no significant difference between the control and intervention arms. The effectiveness of the ALAPAGE program was demonstrated by a significant improvement in physical capacity in the intervention arm compared to the control arm. The total estimated cost for implementing the program and its evaluation was €6,072 for the intervention arm versus €4,169 for the control arm.

The ALAPAGE program proved effective in improving physical activity (significant improvement in physical capacity in the intervention arm) and showed promising results in enhancing dietary diversity (similar improvement in both arms), although the cost was 45% higher than that of the control arm.

These findings may help inform public policy decisions when selecting interventions to encourage older adults to take care of their health through nutrition and physical activity, despite a significantly higher cost.