Middle Age and Older Adults: Their Nutrition and Physical Activity Needs and How Best to Address Them

Abstract

This cross-sectional study assessed the nutrition and physical activity (PA) needs, practices, and programming preferences of adults ages 40+ years from seven states (n = 1,250). Respondents were mostly educated, White, food-secure, adults ages 60+ years. Many were married, suburban-residing, and interested in health programming. By self-report most respondents were “at nutritional risk” (59.3%), in “somewhat good health” (32.3%), and sedentary (49.2%). One-third reported PA intention in the next two months. Desired programs were less than four weeks and under 4 h weekly. Respondents preferred to attend self-directed online lessons (41.2%). Program format preference varied by age (P < 0.05). More respondents aged 40–49 years and 70+ years reported a preference for online group sessions compared to those aged 50 to 69 years. Respondents ages 60 to 69 years reported the highest preference for interactive apps. More older respondents (60 years and older) preferred asynchronous online lessons compared to the younger respondents (age 59 years and younger). There were significant program participation interest differences by age, race, and location (P< 0.05). These results revealed a need and preference for self-directed, online health programming for middle-aged and older adults.

Keywords:

• Middle-aged adults
• older adults
• physical activity
• nutritional risk
• health programming classifications: aging
• community health
• web-based surveys

Acknowledgments

This work was completed as part of the USDA NE-1939 Multistate Project “Improving the health span of aging adults through diet and PA.”

Ethical approval

The Iowa State University Institutional Review Board approved this study protocol, which was deemed exempt with the ID 20-384.

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article [and/or] its supplementary materials.

Additional information

Funding

The research was supported by the Lura M. Lovell Fellowship; SD00R691-20: United States Department of Agriculture – National Institute of Food and Agriculture; USDA/NIFA Hatch Project #1011487; University of the District of Columbia Multistate Project; and West Virginia Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Hatch/Multi-State #1021322. South Dakota State University Agricultural Experiment Station, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Hatch/Multistate #SD00H706-20.