Mass Media and Healthy Aging

ABSTRACT

Health effects associated with media use have largely focused on children and youth with little attention paid to adults, particularly older adults. However, adults aged 60 years and older report heavy television viewing, and unique health education challenges will be faced as the technically savvy baby-boomer cohort ages. Media health effects relevant to older adults include an established causative link with adiposity and correlations to increased risk of chronic disease, reduced physical activity, and undesirable food choice behaviors. Advertising has targeted older adults as a key market segment promoting anti-aging and health related products, with potential negative body image impacts. Implications for health practitioners and research are discussed in the context of these consequences.

KEYWORDS:

• Aging
• mass media
• media health effects
• television

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Laurie A. Wadsworth

Laurie A. Wadsworth (PhD, PDt, FDC) is Associate Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Christine P. Johnson

Christine P. Johnson (MScAHN, PDt) is Assistant Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada.