Aspects Influencing Food Intake and Approaches towards Personalising Nutrition in the Elderly

AbstractHealthy diets have been demonstrated to complement benefits of physical activity, physical condition and mental wellbeing, all of them being important factors influencing the quality of life of elderly. Unfortunately malnutrition is a serious threat and an increasingly prevalent condition among the fast-growing elderly population. The present work addresses the identification of important factors contributing to decreased appetite and food intake as well as the development of approaches towards a healthy diet and personalised nutrition in elderly. Within the present study semi-structured interviews with elderly and elderly suffering from swallowing and mastication difficulties have been performed, results being used for the development of food provision modules and the corresponding recipes addressing the nutritional requirements of elderly. The social context and the swallowing and mastication difficulties influence the eating behaviour as well as the motivation to eat. On the other hand, it was found that texture modified foods (food which texture is adapted to the need of people with swallowing and mastication problems) could act as motivational aspect. With regard to food personalisation in the elderly the consideration of three different case scenarios based on individual independency and the degree of oral impairment seemed to be appropriate. Different aspects such as gender weight, physical activity level as well as high protein demand are important influential factors in the development of personalised recipes in elderly. In addition to the above, a conversational agent was developed as behaviour change module and can be successfully used as smart personal assistant in helping the users to understand their eating habits and adopt healthier nutrition over the long term.

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Physical Activity Level and Motor Aptitude: Motor Domains and Identification Capacity of Brazilian Insufficiently Active Older Adults

Current Aging Science ◽

10.2174/1874609813666200928141220 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

Author(s):

Lucia Maria Andreis ◽

Fernando de Aguiar Lemos ◽

Lorenna Walesca de Lima Silva ◽

Cassiana Luiza Pistorello Garcia ◽

Gabrielli Veras ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Physical Activity Level ◽

Area Under The Curve ◽

The Elderly ◽

Activity Level ◽

General Motor ◽

Body Scheme ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Global Coordination

Background: A decrease in the physical activity level in old age is common, which results in an increase in the number of falls and chronic conditions. Associated with that occurs the decline in motor skills as a result of the deficit in the interaction of cognitive and motor processes. Physical activity level can be associated differently with each motor domains. Objective: We analyzed the relationship between physical activity level and motor aptitude, and to identify which motor domains were most sensitive to detect insufficiently active level in older adults. Methods: Participated in the study 385 elderly people of both sexes. For the evaluation of the subjects were adopted the International Questionnaire on Physical Activity and the Motor Scale for Older Adults. Results: The majority of the elderly were active. In the comparison of motor aptitude between active and insufficiently active (IAC) elders a significant difference was found in the Global Coordination, Balance, Body Scheme and General Motor Aptitude. From the analysis of the area under the curve (AUC), we verified that these domains also were the ones that presented adequate diagnostic accuracy to identify IAC elderly. Besides that active elderly have presented the General Motor Aptitude classified within normality while the IAC below the normal. Conclusion: Our data suggest that IAC older adults present lower motor aptitude than the active elderly, especially in the domains of Global Coordination, Balance, Body Scheme and General Motor Aptitude, and that these domains were sensitive to indicate IAC older adults.

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The Analysis of Nutritional Habits of the Third Age Students in Poznań

Open Agriculture ◽

10.1515/opag-2020-0003 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 21-29

Author(s):

Magdalena Pracka ◽

Marcin Dziedziński ◽

Przemysław Łukasz Kowalczewski

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Eating Habits ◽

The Elderly ◽

The Body ◽

Nutritional Habits ◽

Third Age ◽

Waist To Hip Ratio ◽

The Third

AbstractIn recent years have seen increasing percentage of the elderly in the overall population. This has driven the attention to the lifestyle factors that influence the health and quality of life of this social group, including their nutrition and physical activity. Universities of the Third Age (U3A) are a valuable platform for the dissemination and broadening of the knowledge related to these topics. The nutritional habits of 61 U3A students in Poznań were evaluated on the basis of a modified KomPAN questionnaire. Their nutritional status was determined using the body mass index (BMI) and waist to hip ratio (WHR) indices. Nearly half of the respondents were overweight and 16% had first degree obesity. The WHR index in women was on average 0.8, while in men it was 1.01. Only 13% of the students declared regular eating, with 60% consuming 4-5 meals a day. Women were found to eat snacks between meals more often than men. It was also found that the majority of the elderly do not add salt to ready meals or sweeten beverages with sugars. Taking into account the observed nutritional problems and the occurrence of improper eating habits of the elderly, it is recommended to continue the education on the prevention of common diet-related diseased.

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Physical inactivity as a determinant of the physical activity level in the elderly

International Journal of Obesity ◽

10.1038/sj.ijo.0801644 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 25 (7) ◽

pp. 935-939 ◽

Cited By ~ 65

Author(s):

EP Meijer ◽

AHC Goris ◽

L Wouters ◽

KR Westerterp

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Physical Activity Level ◽

Physical Inactivity ◽

The Elderly ◽

Activity Level

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Eating habits and physical activity in working adults: a formative research

10.21203/rs.3.rs-22544/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

N Badillo-Camacho ◽

S Torres-Castro ◽

MF Bernal-Orozco ◽

NM Torres-Carrillo ◽

M Altamirano-Martínez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Social Cognitive Theory ◽

Fast Food ◽

Social Cognitive ◽

Cognitive Theory ◽

Phenomenological Study ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Eating Behaviour ◽

Personal Factors ◽

Sugary Drinks

Abstract Background: Eating habits and physical activity are important factors for the development and prevention of non-communicable diseases. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyse the beliefs, behaviours, and experiences of dietary and physical activity habits based on the constructs of the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). Methods: An exploratory study with a qualitative methodology and a phenomenological study design was conducted using focus groups, in-depth interviews, and indirect non-participatory observation. The sessions were audio-recorded and transcribed with prior written informed consent. Data analysis was performed using a hybrid approach.Results: Workers reported that they do not eat vegetables or fruits daily; however, the consumption of fast food and sugary drinks was frequent. Participants’ behaviour is influenced by environmental factors such as reinforcements (economic bonus and company meetups & events), barriers (workplace policies) and facilitators (availability of drinking water, free tortillas , dining rooms, and recreational areas); and personal factors, such as low self-control when when choosing foods from the grains group (e.g. Mexican pastries, noodles and breads), and emotional confrontation (e.g. few workers try to use strategies to confront their emotions and avoid them from affecting their eating and physical activity). On the other hand, participants indicated not feeling capable of eating specific foods due to their taste, for example vegetables, and doing physical activity due to factors such as time. Finally, other key elements influencing workers’ behaviours were observational learning (participants eating behaviour and physical activity are influenced by their coworkers and family’s behaviours), social support (coworkers and family) and outcome expectations (participants’ hoping to improve their health by eating healthy and physical activity behaviours).Conclusions: Workers’s eating behaviour and physical activity could be modified if different influencing factors are simultaneously addressed. These findings will contribute to the development of worksite health programs, based on the SCT, to address the key factors that could improve workers’ eating behaviours and physical activity. Keywords: Eating habits, physical activity, adults, workers, workplace programs, qualitative research, Social Cognitive Theory.

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Analysis of physical activity level and sedentary behavior before and after stroke: A cross-sectional study

10.5327/1516-3180.487 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

João Victor de Araújo Souza ◽

Monalisa Silva de França ◽

Nayara Karina Ferreira Pereira ◽

Denise Soares de Araújo ◽

Roberta de Oliveira Cacho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Analytical Study ◽

Chronic Phase ◽

The Elderly ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Activity Level ◽

Systemic Hypertension ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Before And After ◽

Regular Practice

Introduction: Stroke is a major cause of death and mortality worldwide. The sedentary lifestyle is a modifiable risk factor and the regular practice of physical activity can reduce the recurrence of stroke and its symptoms. Objective: To characterize the level of physical activity of post-stroke patients before and after the event. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional, analytical study. The population of the study consisted of patients diagnosed with stroke, in the chronic phase under treatment or that have already been discharged from the Physiotherapy School Clinic of FACISA in Santa Cruz-RN. The individuals were evaluated by the Modified Baecker Questionnaire for the Elderly (QBMI) that classifies the level of physical activity in: sedentary (-9), active (9 to 16), and athletes (+16). The normality of the variables was verified by the Shapiro-Wilk test. Wilcoxon’s test was used for comparative analysis of QBMI before and after stroke. Results: Nineteen patients participated (8 male and 11 female) with a mean age of 63 years, of these, 11 had systemic hypertension. Before, 3 were classified as sedentary (score mean: 5.34), 5 active (score mean: 12.254) and 1 athlete ( score mean: 27.04). After the stroke, 18 were classified as sedentary (score mean: 1.46) (p=0.001). Conclusion: There was a reduction in the participants’ level of physical activity, showing greater sedentariness after stroke, although physical activity is essential for secondary prevention of stroke.

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Mindsets Predict Physical Activity and Relate to Chosen Management Strategies in Individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis

10.1101/2021.03.31.21254737 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Melissa A. Boswell ◽

Kris M. Evans ◽

Sean R. Zion ◽

Danielle Z. Boles ◽

Jennifer L. Hicks ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Knee Osteoarthritis ◽

Online Survey ◽

Management Strategies ◽

The Elderly ◽

Activity Level ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Group A ◽

Test Retest Reliability ◽

The Relationship

Objectives. We compared mindsets about physical activity among those with and without knee osteoarthritis and investigated if these mindsets relate to physical activity level and symptom management. Methods. Participants with (n=150) and without (n=152) knee osteoarthritis completed an online survey at study enrollment (T1). Participants with knee osteoarthritis repeated the survey three weeks later (T2; n=62). The mindset questionnaire, scored from 1-4, assessed the extent to which individuals associate the process of exercising with less appeal-focused qualities (e.g., boring, painful, isolating, and depriving) vs. appeal-focused (e.g., fun, pleasurable, social, and indulgent) versus. Using linear regression, we examined the relationship between mindset and having knee osteoarthritis, and, in the subgroup of participants with knee osteoarthritis, the relationship between mindset at T1 and physical activity (via the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly) at T2. We also compared mindsets between those who use medication for management and those who use exercise. Results. A less appeal-focused mindset regarding physical activity was marginally associated with having knee osteoarthritis (β=-0.125, P=0.096). Within the knee osteoarthritis group, a more appeal-focused mindset predicted higher future physical activity (β=20.68, P=0.039), controlling for current physical activity, demographics, and health. Individuals that used exercise with or without pain medication or injections had more appeal-focused process mindsets than those who used medication or injections without exercise (P<0.001). Further, the process mindset inventory demonstrated strong internal consistency (α=0.92 at T1 for n=150 and α=0.92 at T2 for n=62) and test-retest reliability (ICC>0.841, P<0.001) within the knee osteoarthritis population. Conclusion. In individuals with knee osteoarthritis, mindsets predict future physical activity levels and relate to an individual's management strategy. Mindsets are a reliable and malleable construct and may be a valuable target for increasing physical activity and improving adherence to rehabilitation strategies involving exercise among individuals with knee osteoarthritis.

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Role of Gender and Physical Activity Level on Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in the Elderly

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity ◽

10.1155/2020/1315471 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Antoine Raberin ◽

Philippe Connes ◽

Jean-Claude Barthélémy ◽

Pia Robert ◽

Sébastien Celle ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Cardiovascular Diseases ◽

Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽

The Elderly ◽

Activity Level ◽

Advanced Oxidation Protein Products ◽

The Impact

Background. Cardiovascular diseases remain as the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in industrialized countries. Ageing and gender strongly modulate the risk to develop cardiovascular diseases but very few studies have investigated the impact of gender on cardiovascular diseases in the elderly, which represents a growing population. The purpose of this study was to test the impact of gender and physical activity level on several biochemical and clinical markers of cardiovascular risk in elderly individuals. Methods. Elderly individuals (318 women (75.8±1.2 years-old) and 227 men (75.8±1.1 years-old)) were recruited. Physical activity was measured by a questionnaire. Metabolic syndrome was defined using the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel’s definition. Polysomnography and digital tonometry were used to detect obstructive sleep apnea and assess vascular reactivity, respectively. Blood was sampled to measure several oxidative stress markers and adhesion molecules. Results. The frequency of cardiovascular diseases was significantly higher in men (16.4%) than in women (6.1%) (p<0.001). Body mass index (25.0±4.3 vs. 25.8±3.13 kg.m−2) and glycaemia (94.9±16.5 vs. 101.5±22.6 mg.dL−1) were lower, and High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) (74.6±17.8 vs. 65.0±17.2 mg.dL−1) was higher in women compared to men (p<0.05). Oxidative stress was lower in women than in men (uric acid: 52.05±13.78 vs. 59.84±13.58, advanced oxidation protein products: 223±94 vs. 246±101 μmol.L−1, malondialdehyde: 22.44±6.81 vs. 23.88±9.74 nmol.L−1). Physical activity was not associated with lower cardiovascular risk factors in both genders. Multivariate analyses showed an independent effect of gender on acid uric (β=0.182; p=0.020), advanced oxidation protein products (β=0.257; p<0.001), and HDL concentration (β=−0.182; p=0.026). Conclusion. These findings suggest that biochemical cardiovascular risk factors are lower in women than men which could explain the lower cardiovascular disease proportion observed in women in the elderly.

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The Physical Environment as a Determinant of the Health Status of Older Populations

Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement ◽

10.1017/s0714980800009892 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 313-327 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Kathy M. Shipp ◽

Laurence G. Branch

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Health Status ◽

Physical Environment ◽

The Elderly ◽

Living Environment ◽

Activity Level ◽

Retirement Communities ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Environmental Press ◽

Organ Systems

ABSTRACTAlthough the physical environment as a co-determinant of health could be approached in many ways, we chose to focus on an understudied area: how the immediate living environment can act as a persuasive force affecting physical activity level in older people, with physical activity in turn affecting health status. To explore this topic, the methods and findings of a literature search are described, the theoretical underpinnings of our thesis are presented, and an example is given of how a planned environment, which upon first glance seems supportive, may have unexpected and negative consequences on the activity level, and ultimately the health status, of the residents. Theory related to changes with aging in homeostatic capacity and reserve capacity of organ systems as well as Lawton's environmental press-competence model are applied to environmental characteristics (e.g., staircases) of continuing care retirement communities. We argue that physically challenging aspects of the environment, such as stairs, should be included in the design of living spaces for the elderly with the goal of encouraging greater daily physical activity and improved health status.

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Individual differences in physical activity are closely associated with changes in body weight in adult female rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

AJP Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpregu.00069.2006 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 291 (3) ◽

pp. R633-R642 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Elinor L. Sullivan ◽

Frank H. Koegler ◽

Judy L. Cameron

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Weight Gain ◽

Food Intake ◽

Metabolic Rate ◽

Rhesus Monkeys ◽

Caloric Intake ◽

Activity Level ◽

Female Rhesus ◽

Measured Activity ◽

Low Activity

The increased prevalence of overweight adults has serious health consequences. Epidemiological studies suggest an association between low activity and being overweight; however, few studies have objectively measured activity during a period of weight gain, so it is unknown whether low activity is a cause or consequence of being overweight. To determine whether individual differences in adult weight gain are linked to an individual’s activity level, we measured activity, via accelerometry, over a prolonged period (9 mo) in 18 adult female rhesus monkeys. Weight, food intake, metabolic rate, and activity were first monitored over a 3-mo period. During this period, there was mild but significant weight gain (5.5 ± 0.88%; t =−6.3, df = 17, P < 0.0001), whereas caloric intake and activity remained stable. Metabolic rate increased, as expected, with weight gain. Activity level correlated with weight gain ( r = −0.52, P = 0.04), and the most active monkeys gained less weight than the least active monkeys ( t = −2.74, df = 8, P = 0.03). Moreover, there was an eightfold difference in activity between the most and least active monkeys, and initial activity of each monkey was highly correlated with their activity after 9 mo ( r = 0.85, P < 0.0001). In contrast, food intake did not correlate with weight gain, and there was no difference in weight gain between monkeys with the highest vs. lowest caloric intake, total metabolic rate, or basal metabolic rate. We conclude that physical activity is a particularly important factor contributing to weight change in adulthood and that there are large, but stable, differences in physical activity among individuals.

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Aging, exercise, and muscle protein metabolism

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.91551.2008 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 106 (6) ◽

pp. 2040-2048 ◽

Cited By ~ 197

Author(s):

René Koopman ◽

Luc J. C. van Loon

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Protein Synthesis ◽

Food Intake ◽

Muscle Mass ◽

Skeletal Muscle Mass ◽

Muscle Protein ◽

Muscle Protein Synthesis ◽

The Elderly ◽

Age Related

Aging is accompanied by a progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, leading to the loss of functional capacity and an increased risk of developing chronic metabolic disease. The age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass is attributed to a disruption in the regulation of skeletal muscle protein turnover, resulting in an imbalance between muscle protein synthesis and degradation. As basal (fasting) muscle protein synthesis rates do not seem to differ substantially between the young and elderly, many research groups have started to focus on the muscle protein synthetic response to the main anabolic stimuli, i.e., food intake and physical activity. Recent studies suggest that the muscle protein synthetic response to food intake is blunted in the elderly. The latter is now believed to represent a key factor responsible for the age-related decline in skeletal muscle mass. Physical activity and/or exercise stimulate postexercise muscle protein accretion in both the young and elderly. However, the latter largely depends on the timed administration of amino acids and/or protein before, during, and/or after exercise. Prolonged resistance type exercise training represents an effective therapeutic strategy to augment skeletal muscle mass and improve functional performance in the elderly. The latter shows that the ability of the muscle protein synthetic machinery to respond to anabolic stimuli is preserved up to very old age. Research is warranted to elucidate the interaction between nutrition, exercise, and the skeletal muscle adaptive response. The latter is needed to define more effective strategies that will maximize the therapeutic benefits of lifestyle intervention in the elderly.

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