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

• 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
• ISSN: 0163-9366; 1540-8566
• DOI: 10.1080/01639360903140189

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.