Measuring the Impact of Nutrition Education and Physical Activity on Older Adults Participating in Government Sponsored Programs

A longitudinal, four-year study (2004-2007) with a cohort of 139 older adults (majority women;71%) was conducted to examine the impact of community-based nutrition and physical activity programs on health outcome measures. Demographic and anthropometric data were collected and nutrition screening wa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of nutrition for the elderly 2009-07, Vol.28 (3), p.255-271
Main Authors: Wunderlich, Shahla, McKinnon, Charlotte, Piemonte, Jacqueline, Ahmad, Zaira Naveed
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aging - physiology
biomarkers
Blood Pressure - physiology
Cohort Studies
community nutrition programs
elderly
elderly nutrition
Exercise - physiology
Female
Health Education - methods
Health Promotion - methods
Health Status
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Nutrition Assessment
nutrition education
Nutritional Sciences - education
nutritional status
older adults
physical activity
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Summary:A longitudinal, four-year study (2004-2007) with a cohort of 139 older adults (majority women;71%) was conducted to examine the impact of community-based nutrition and physical activity programs on health outcome measures. Demographic and anthropometric data were collected and nutrition screening was performed. Blood pressure, serum cholesterol and glucose levels, and pulse rate were also measured. The blood pressure, both mean systolic and diastolic, 141(+/- 19.0)/79.3 +/- 9.7 (2004) vs. 127.8 +/- 10.9/73.8 +/- 10.2 mm Hg (2007), were improved (p < 0.05) in women. There were also improvements (p < 0.05 in both men and women) in pulse rate between 2004 and 2007. There is no doubt that nutrition education and exercise programs together enhanced the overall health and well being of these older adults. However, our findings emphasize the need for further systematic study and for appropriate biometric assessments to evaluate the full impact of nutrition education and physical activity interventions in older adults.
ISSN:0163-9366
1540-8566
DOI:10.1080/01639360903140189