Physical activity and Baltic Sea diet are interactively related to higher life satisfaction in community-living older Finnish women: OSTPRE-FPS study

Br J Nutr. 2019 Dec 28;122(12):1417-1423. doi: 10.1017/S000711451900240X.

Abstract

A healthful diet and sufficient physical activity (PA) are related to several health outcomes. However, there is a paucity of data on the association of PA and dietary pattern with life satisfaction (LS) in the older adults aged ≥65. The present study investigated the independent and combined association of PA and Baltic Sea diet (BSD) score with LS in older Finnish women. Subjects were 554 women aged 65-72 years from the Osteoporosis Risk Factor and Prevention - Fracture Prevention Study. Women reported the hours and type of PA and lifestyle factors via questionnaires and dietary intake using the 3-d food record. Adequate PA was considered according to WHO recommendation: PA = 0, 0 < PA < 2·5 and ≥2·5 h/week. BSD score was categorised as <13 or ≥13 based on the median score. LS was self-reported using LS scale with four items on current 'interest', 'happiness in life', 'ease of living' and 'feelings of loneliness' (range: 4-20, lower score representing higher satisfaction). After adjusting for the confounders, PA was statistically significantly associated with lower LS score (β coefficient = -0·207, P = 0·001), where women with PA ≥ 2·5 h/week had the lowest LS score followed by women with 0 < PA < 2·5 and PA = 0 (Pfor trend = 0·020). Association between BSD and LS was NS. Only among women with BSD score ≥ 13, but not BSD < 13, PA ≥ 2·5 h/week was statistically significantly associated with lower LS score (mean = 9·3), followed by 0 < PA < 2·5 (mean = 9·9) and PA = 0 groups (mean = 11·8) (Pfor trend = 0·033). In conclusion, adequate PA according to WHO recommendation independently and in combination with higher BSD score may be associated with higher LS in older women.

Keywords: Diet quality; Older adults; Physical activity; Subjective well-being.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Absorptiometry, Photon
  • Aged
  • Body Composition
  • Bone Density
  • Densitometry
  • Diet*
  • Exercise*
  • Female
  • Finland
  • Humans
  • Life Style
  • Oceans and Seas
  • Osteoporotic Fractures / epidemiology
  • Personal Satisfaction*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires