Program gets seniors moving, eating better

By Amy Norton

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A simple government-funded program that encourages older adults to eat better and walk more seems to work as intended, according to a new study.

The program, dubbed Eat Better & Move More, was tested at 10 sites that participate in the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program, a federally funded service for seniors that includes "meals-on-wheels" home deliveries, group dining and nutrition education.

Researchers found that of 620 older adults who completed the 12-week program, three-quarters of those with less-than-ideal eating and exercise habits improved their ways -- or at least said they intended to.

The findings are published in the American Journal of Public Health.

"The good news about eating better and moving more is that it is never too late to start," lead study author Dr. Nancy Wellman, of Florida International University in Miami, told Reuters Health.

"The payoff is being and feeling healthier," she added.

The Eat Better & Move More program was developed as part of a federal government campaign to get older Americans to adopt a healthier lifestyle. For the current study, the program was tested by local agencies that provide nutrition services to older adults.

Nearly 1,000 older adults enrolled in the program, which offered weekly "mini-talks" on nutrition and exercise, and gave participants step counters to encourage them to walk more. It also provided them with take-home sheets to record their diet and exercise changes. The program was held at neighborhood senior centers, churches and housing complexes.

Wellman and her colleagues found that of the 620 men and women who finished the program, about one-third increased their fruit intake by at least one serving a day. A similar improvement was seen with vegetable and fiber intake.

As for exercise, participants started walking more and climbing more flights of stairs, increasing their daily steps by 35 percent, on average.

Given that so many major illnesses of aging, from heart disease to cancer, are lifestyle-related, experts advise all adults to make healthful choices -- like not smoking, eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and fiber, and getting at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day.

"Without eating well and staying active, we put ourselves at greater risk for chronic 'killer' disease, more frequent illnesses and longer recovery times," Wellman explained.

She said older adults who want to revamp their lifestyle can look for local programs that provide meals, nutrition education and walking clubs, for instance.

"Look for quality programs," Wellman advised. "They are led by qualified people, like dietitians, physical therapists and exercise physiologists."

The Eat Better & Move More program itself is available in cities and towns across the country, she said.

SOURCE: American Journal of Public Health, April 2007.