Dietary-Physical Activity Patterns in the Health Context of Older Polish Adults: The 'ABC of Healthy Eating' Project

Marta Jeruszka-Bielak; Jadwiga Hamulka; Ewa Czarniecka-Skubina; Monika Hoffmann; Eliza Kostyra; Beata Stasiewicz; Jan Jeszka; Lidia Wadolowska

doi:10.3390/nu14183757

Dietary-Physical Activity Patterns in the Health Context of Older Polish Adults: The 'ABC of Healthy Eating' Project

Nutrients. 2022 Sep 11;14(18):3757. doi: 10.3390/nu14183757.

Authors

Marta Jeruszka-Bielak¹, Jadwiga Hamulka¹, Ewa Czarniecka-Skubina², Monika Hoffmann³, Eliza Kostyra³, Beata Stasiewicz⁴, Jan Jeszka⁵, Lidia Wadolowska⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Human Nutrition, Institute of Human Nutrition Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS-SGGW), Nowoursynowska 159C, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland.
² Department of Food Gastronomy and Food Hygiene, Institute of Human Nutrition Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS), 159C, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland.
³ Department of Functional and Organic Food, Institute of Human Nutrition Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW-WULS), 159C, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland.
⁴ Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Food Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Sloneczna 45F, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland.
⁵ Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 31, 60-624 Poznan, Poland.

Abstract

The study aimed to analyze the dietary-physical activity patterns (D-PAPs) in the health context of Polish people aged 60+ years. A total of 418 respondents across Poland were recruited; however, the final analysis included 361 women and men aged 60-89 years old. D-PAPs were derived using a principal component analysis (PCA); input variables were the frequency of consumption of 10 food groups and physical activity. Finally, three D-PAPs were identified: 'Pro-healthy eating and more-active', 'Sweets, fried foods and sweetened beverages', and 'Juices, fish and sweetened beverages'. We developed the Functional Limitations Score (FLS) using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA^®). A logistic regression was applied to verify the association between the D-PAPs and health-condition outcomes. Older adults were more likely to adhere to the upper tertile of the 'Pro-healthy eating and more-active' pattern, with good/better self-reported health status in comparison with their peers (OR = 1.86) or with good/very good self-assessed appetite (OR = 2.56), while this was less likely for older adults with malnutrition risk (OR = 0.37) or with a decrease in food intake (OR = 0.46). Subjects with a decrease in food intake (OR = 0.43), who declared a recent weight loss (OR = 0.49), or older adults in the upper tertile of the FLS (OR = 0.34) were less likely to adhere to the upper tertile of the 'Sweets, fried foods and sweetened beverages' pattern. The decrease in food intake due to a loss of appetite or chewing or swallowing difficulties was inversely associated with the 'Pro-healthy eating and more-active' pattern characterized by a relatively high frequency of consumption of vegetables, fruit, water, dairy, and grains and a high physical activity. In the interest of the good nutritional status and health of older adults, special attention should be paid to removing limitations in meal consumption, including improved appetite.

Keywords: Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA®); dietary patterns; food consumption; functional limitations; older adults; physical activity.

MeSH terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Diet
Diet, Healthy*
Drinking
Eating
Exercise*
Feeding Behavior
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Poland
Vegetables

Grants and funding

This research was financially supported by the Carrefour Foundation (Agreement ABC No. 1/2014) and each scientific center from sources of the Polish Ministry of Sciences and Higher Education.