Survey Reveals Gaps in US Eating Habits

Source: Tufts University
August 8, 2002 (Reviewed: August 20, 2004)

What would motivate you to make healthful changes to your diet -- diagnosis of a particular disease, advice from your doctor, the desire to lose weight? Have you increased your consumption of fruits and vegetables, cooked with less fat, or eaten more fiber in the past year? If you're curious about how your responses compare with those of other consumers, look to the recent survey findings from The Alliance for Aging Research. They surveyed baby boomers (ages 38 to 56) and older adults (ages 57 and older) to find out about their about lifestyle habits and attitudes toward growing older.

Aging attitudes

The researchers interviewed over 1000 volunteers who were randomly selected by telephone number across the U.S. during the spring of 2002. They answered questions on aging, health, and health care issues and concerns. The results reveal that Americans have high expectations for long, healthy, and independent lives. However, while they acknowledge that health behaviors help determine how well they age, there appears to be a gap between what consumers know to be a healthful diet and what they are actually eating.

Preventive actions

Forty percent of boomers and 33% of older adults said they were "very" or "somewhat" concerned about getting older. Almost all of the respondents have done something to fight the aging process. It appears that boomers feel most at risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, and cancer, which are often modifiable by lifestyle. Over 80% say they have made changes to their diet in the past year:

• 57% have eaten more fruits and vegetables
• 47% have reduced their use of fats and oils
• 46% have eaten more high fiber foods
• 44% have taken vitamins, minerals, or daily supplements
• 35% have cut back on red meat

Excuses

On the other hand, more than half of the younger respondents realize they should be eating more healthful food, but they are not. Why?

• 17% cite lack of discipline --- it's just too much trouble
• 16% say healthful food does not taste good
• 12% claim lack of time
• 3% believe they are too young to worry about healthful eating

Motivation

Interestingly, when given the choice between "eating and doing whatever you want and having 10 more years to live" and "being on a strict diet and living as long as you want," 43% of the boomers and 52% of the older adults opted for the shorter life with fewer limitations. (At least for the moment, they seemed to rate quality of life higher than quantity.) Even so, what would it take for boomers to change their eating habits?

• 32% said being diagnosed with a medical condition or disease
• 17% said a doctor's advice
• 12% said becoming overweight

Great expectations

Previous research indicates that American generally have a positive outlook about their future and plan on being active as they get older. But if the results of this survey are an accurate indication, too few of the nearly 75 million US baby boomers have made healthy eating part of their retirement plans.

Source

• A New Age of Aging --- A Study of Baby Boomer Behaviors on Growing Older. Alliance for Aging Research. http://www.agingresearch.org/quaker.cfm

Related Links
Nutrition Report Shows Need for Improvement
How One Lives Can Affect How One Eats
Alliance for Aging Research
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