The most important health-promoting behavior for both
adolescents and adults is healthy nutrition, which according to the latest
research is linked with longevity benefits. In fact, older age does not seem to
be a major factor in determining one’s lifespan in adulthood.
A new study by researchers from Nanyang Technological University
(NTU) School of Medicine underlines the importance of maintaining such
practices into old age. The researchers used two different cohorts of
respondents – males aged 55 years and above and females aged 49–64 years – to
examine how a group of healthy people living within their means lived an
extended amount of time compared to the general population.
The findings showed that men and women who followed “dietary
behaviors” into old age did significantly better at remaining healthy, and that
these differences can be attributed to greater adherence to physical activity,
consumption of fruits/vegetables, and healthy diet. The study also discovered
that if people did not follow a variety of dietary habits, they were more
likely to die younger from various causes. These changes are consistent with
what other studies have found when it comes to healthy eating.
These conclusions are supported by previous research showing
that diet influences overall health and longevity. According to this recent
paper, there is some correlation between the number of calories people consume
and their longevity. But no study has looked at diet behaviors as a predictor
of longevity throughout adulthood.
The study was published online recently in BMC Public Health.
About the Study
The survey included 5013 men and 573 females aged 55 years or
over in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan. Each respondent was asked about
specific food habits, physical health, and whether they had tried any other
healthy activities. It took around 20 minutes to complete the questionnaire,
but each study participant was given 24 hours later for them to send back their
answers. After the assessment was completed, each survey participant was rated
on five criteria:
- Physical fitness rating.
- Health indicators.
- Physical activity level.
- Adherence to nutritional guidance.
- Mental health.
Participants were monitored twice during the year, beginning at
age 40 (a time point when many people become involved in retirement), and every
year thereafter until the end of their lives. Overall, it measured a person’s
ability to maintain healthy lifestyle throughout life and to reduce risk of
disability, illness, death, and premature mortality. Additionally, each
individual was graded based on how much time he or she has spent below the
poverty line. This method ensures that individuals were able to avoid extreme
deprivation, including hunger, homelessness, malnutrition, and lack of food
(“nutrition status”). Lastly, participants were also assessed based on social
support. Social support refers to positive relationships with others.
Participants with the highest levels of social support were rated higher overall
compared to those without it. All scores ranged from 0 – 10, with higher
numbers being better. Scores ranging from 11 “above average” to 9 “below
average” were considered low.
Results
For the whole sample, only 29% of people maintained healthier
weight and body mass index (BMI) for all three measurements of body composition
– waist circumference, mean body fat percentage, and Body Mass Index (BMI).
Only 17.2% of the healthy people showed improvements in their BMIs. However,
the results show that men and women who maintained those behaviors into old age
did better than the general population in terms of reducing overall mortality.
Specifically, the mean increase in mortality rate from cancer and
cardiovascular disease was 7.9% and 15.9%, respectively. For those who
maintained healthier BMI through their Middle Ages, mortality rate decreased
almost 4 times.
In addition, 30.5% of the cohort showed improved physical
activity, while 27.5% of them were engaged in light physical exercises, and
22.9% showed moderate activity. Those who did not meet the recommended daily
physical activity guidelines showed only 1 hour less per day of exercise
compared to the baseline score of 8 hours. Of all the categories, those who met
walking recommendations were more active and achieved more success in engaging
in other healthy behaviors compared to non-walkers.
As reported in earlier studies, the majority of people did not
even consider themselves to be physically active. More importantly for healthy
aging, adherence to such recommendations improved life expectancy, which was
observed with lower rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. As
well, in order to achieve these benefits, men and women could be doing
something important to the broader community. People should be mindful that for
an actionable result, they must make a conscious effort to stick with healthy
diets and regular physical activity.
Men who adhered most closely to those recommendations for
physical activity could expect to live up to 3 more years compared to those who
did not meet the minimum recommendation. Women, on the other hand, were less
successful if they were meeting the recommended threshold. They were at a
greater risk of having a stroke or heart attack than their counterparts.
Similarly, those who followed a proper diet were more likely to live longer.
The best way to ensure they reach these goals is by making sure they are
getting adequate sleep and taking care of their mental health.
Conclusions
The findings, however, are not limited to just the physical
aspect of health. Researchers suggest that adopting a high degree of fitness,
regular movement, and healthy foods is essential for cognitive, emotional,
social skills, and psychological well-being. Thus, in addition to the
improvement of these aspects, it’s also crucial to engage in other types of
activity, especially social, recreational, educational, spiritual, political,
economic, occupational, and leisure activities.
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