8-year trends in physical activity, nutrition, TV viewing time, smoking, alcohol and BMI: A comparison of younger and older Queensland adults.

Stephanie J Alley,Corneel Vandelanotte,Amanda L Rebar,Stephanie Schoeppe,Mitch J Duncan,Leng Huat Foo

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0172510

Stephanie J Alley, Corneel Vandelanotte + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0172510

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Abstract

Lifestyle behaviours significantly contribute to high levels of chronic disease in older adults. The aims of the study were to compare the prevalence and the prevalence trends of health behaviours (physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, fast food consumption, TV viewing, smoking and alcohol consumption), BMI and a summary health behaviour indicator score in older (65+ years) versus younger adults (18–65 years). The self-report outcomes were assessed through the Queensland Social Survey annually between 2007–2014 (n = 12,552). Regression analyses were conducted to compare the proportion of older versus younger adults engaging in health behaviours and of healthy weight in all years combined and examine trends in the proportion of younger and older adults engaging in health behaviours and of healthy weight over time. Older adults were more likely to meet recommended intakes of fruit and vegetable (OR = 1.43, 95%CI = 1.23–1.67), not consume fast food (OR = 2.54, 95%CI = 2.25–2.86) and be non-smokers (OR = 3.02, 95%CI = 2.53–3.60) in comparison to younger adults. Conversely, older adults were less likely to meet the physical activity recommendations (OR = 0.86, 95%CI = 0.78–0.95) and watch less than 14 hours of TV per week (OR = 0.65, 95%CI = 0.58–0.74). Overall, older adults were more likely to report engaging in 3, or at least 4 out of 5 healthy behaviours. The proportion of both older and younger adults meeting the physical activity recommendations (OR = 0.97, 95%CI = 0.95–0.98 and OR = 0.94, 95%CI = 0.91–0.97 respectively), watching less than 14 hours of TV per week (OR = 0.96, 95%CI = 0.94–0.99 and OR = 0.94, 95%CI = 0.90–0.99 respectively) and who were a healthy weight (OR = 0.95, 95%CI = 0.92–0.99 and OR = 0.96, 95%CI = 0.94–0.98 respectively) decreased over time. The proportion of older adults meeting the fruit and vegetable recommendations (OR = 0.90, 95%CI = 0.84–0.96) and not consuming fast food (OR = 0.94, 95%CI = 0.88–0.99) decreased over time. Although older adults meet more health behaviours than younger adults, the decreasing prevalence of healthy nutrition behaviours in this age group needs to be addressed.

Highlights

Australia’s ageing population is placing a rising burden on the health care system [1]
Half of the sample were meeting the physical activity recommendations (47%), had not consumed fast food in the week prior (57%) and were engaging in less than 14 hours of TV viewing per week (50%)
Older adults are performing better on many health behaviours in all years combined, it is concerning that healthy nutrition behaviours decreased in older adults over the survey years

Summary

Introduction

Australia’s ageing population is placing a rising burden on the health care system [1]. Health-related behaviours such as physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, fast food consumption, alcohol consumption, smoking and TV viewing contribute to the risk of chronic diseases and mortality [4,5,6,7,8]. It is estimated that older adults who meet the physical activity recommendations of 150 minutes per week have a 41% lower risk of mortality over a 10 year period [9] and smoking cessation lengthens life expectancy by 4 years in adults over 55 years of age [8]. It is estimated that adults over 60 years of age that are obese (BMI 30–34) have an 11% greater risk of mortality [11]

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