Sustainability of a physical activity and nutrition program for seniors

• Published in: The Journal of nutrition, health & aging health & aging, 2013, Vol.17 (5), p.486-491
• Main Authors: Pasalich, Maria, Lee, A. H, Jancey, J, Burke, L, Howat, P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aging; avoidance behavior; Biological and medical sciences; Body Mass Index; Cohort analysis; cohort studies; Data Collection; Diet; Dietary Fats - administration & dosage; Dietary Fiber - administration & dosage; elderly; Exercise; Feeding Behavior; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; females; Follow-Up Studies; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geriatrics/Gerontology; Health Behavior; Health Promotion - methods; Humans; Intervention; Interviews as Topic; Male; males; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Neurosciences; Nutrition; nutrition and physical activity programs; Nutrition research; nutritional intervention; Older people; Patient Compliance; physical activity; Physical fitness; Primary Care Medicine; Prospective Studies; Public health; Quality of Life Research; Questionnaires; Self report; Sex Factors; surveys; Surveys and Questionnaires; Sustainability; Time Factors; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; waist; Waist-Hip Ratio; waist-to-hip ratio; Weight Loss; Western Australia
• ISSN: 1279-7707; 1760-4788
• DOI: 10.1007/s12603-012-0433-1

OBJECTIVE: This prospective cohort study aimed to determine the impact of a low cost, home-based physical activity and nutrition program for older adults at 6 months follow-up. DESIGN: A follow-up survey was conducted 6 months after program completion via computer-assisted telephone interviewing. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Fat and Fibre Barometer were used to measure physical activity levels and dietary behaviours, respectively. Self-reported height, weight, waist and hip circumferences were obtained. Changes over three time points of data collection (baseline, post-program, follow-up) and differences between the intervention and control groups were assessed. The use of program materials was also evaluated. SETTING: Community and home-based. PARTICIPANTS: Insufficiently active 60 to 70 year olds (n = 176, intervention and n = 198, control) residing in suburbs within the Perth metropolitan area. RESULTS: A sustained improvement was observed for the intervention group in terms of fat avoidance behaviours (p interaction =.007). Significant improvements were found for strength exercises, fibre intake, body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio at either post-program or follow-up, however the overall effect was not significant. At post-program, the intervention group increased time spent participating in moderate activity by 50 minutes (p >.05), which was followed by a significant decline at follow-up (p