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Healthy Aging Starts with Healthful Eating
practice applications
FROM THE SURGEON GENERAL
Healthy Aging Starts with Healthful Eating
T
his month we celebrate Older Americans—the more than 36 million Americans aged 65 years and older. In fact, we can think of our country as being on the brink of a longevity revolution. According to the US Census Bureau, by the year 2030, the number of older adults will reach 70 million, or one in every five Americans. Great improvements in medicine, public health, science, and technology have enabled today’s older Americans to live longer and healthier lives than previous generations. Unfortunately, many of us think that poor health is an unavoidable consequence of aging. As we get older, we often become discouraged by the aging process. The good news is that science informs us that chronic disease and disability are not an inevitable part of aging. As a result, health-promotion and disease-prevention activities and programs are an increasing priority for older adults, their families, and the health care system. By practicing healthful habits early on, many of the consequences associated with chronic disease can be avoided. Good nutrition and regular physical activity work together to promote health and independence for older adults. Many Americans— both young and old—fail to understand that if they live a healthful lifestyle it will have a positive impact later in life. Studies by the National Institute of Aging indicate that healthful eating, physical activity, mental stimulation, active social engagement, moderate use of alcohol, maintaining a safe environment, social support, regular health care, and not using tobacco are important in maintaining health and independence. As food and nutrition professionals, you understand that healthful eating habits prolong the independence of older adults by helping them to maintain their hearing and vision, cognitive abilities, physical strength, mobility, and endurance. In addition, good nutrition and routine physical
Rear Admiral Kenneth P. Moritsugu activity promote health by lowering the risk for heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and osteoporosis. The Administration on Aging Web site (www.aoa.gov/) notes some interesting facts. Three fourths of African Americans and two thirds of white older Americans eat less than five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Inadequate calcium intake is responsible for up to two thirds of hip fractures in older Americans. Statistics for physical activity are also alarming, showing one third of older adults to be inactive, older women being less active than older men, and older African-American adults less active than older white adults. Promoting the healthful lifestyles of older people is vital in helping them to maintain health and functional independence and to lead healthy and independent lives. The Older Americans Act, originally signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965, sponsors many programs that benefit the senior population, helping them maintain their health and independence, such as Meals-on-Wheels. A more recent initiative to improve nutrition and physical activity in older adults is USA on the Move: Steps to Healthy Aging, a component of the HealthierUS Initiative established by President George W. Bush. Its premise is that simple, modest increases in daily activities can improve overall health, prevent disease and disability, and reduce health care costs for the nation. It teaches us that
© 2007 by the American Dietetic Association
an active, healthful lifestyle is a key component to successful aging. Eating Better and Moving More, the two steps in Steps to Healthy Aging, help even frail older adults prolong their independence and improve their quality of life. Caregivers of family members, who often neglect their own physical, nutritional, and mental health, also benefit from Eating Better and Moving More. The National Center for Health Statistics estimated in 2002 that the life expectancy for a 65-year-old man was 16.6 years and 19.5 years for a woman of the same age. Future generations of older Americans will most likely have a longer life expectancy than this generation. It is our challenge to ensure that all generations of Americans embrace a healthful lifestyle throughout their lives so that as they age, they do so not only happily, but also healthfully. Let’s work together to encourage Americans of all ages to live more healthful lives. Healthful living ensures that today’s older persons—as well as future generations—not only live longer, but also better. —Rear Admiral Kenneth P. Moritsugu, MD, MPH Acting US Surgeon General US Department of Health and Human Services doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2007.03.032
Journal of the AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION
723
FROM THE SURGEON GENERAL
Healthy Aging Starts with Healthful Eating
T
his month we celebrate Older Americans—the more than 36 million Americans aged 65 years and older. In fact, we can think of our country as being on the brink of a longevity revolution. According to the US Census Bureau, by the year 2030, the number of older adults will reach 70 million, or one in every five Americans. Great improvements in medicine, public health, science, and technology have enabled today’s older Americans to live longer and healthier lives than previous generations. Unfortunately, many of us think that poor health is an unavoidable consequence of aging. As we get older, we often become discouraged by the aging process. The good news is that science informs us that chronic disease and disability are not an inevitable part of aging. As a result, health-promotion and disease-prevention activities and programs are an increasing priority for older adults, their families, and the health care system. By practicing healthful habits early on, many of the consequences associated with chronic disease can be avoided. Good nutrition and regular physical activity work together to promote health and independence for older adults. Many Americans— both young and old—fail to understand that if they live a healthful lifestyle it will have a positive impact later in life. Studies by the National Institute of Aging indicate that healthful eating, physical activity, mental stimulation, active social engagement, moderate use of alcohol, maintaining a safe environment, social support, regular health care, and not using tobacco are important in maintaining health and independence. As food and nutrition professionals, you understand that healthful eating habits prolong the independence of older adults by helping them to maintain their hearing and vision, cognitive abilities, physical strength, mobility, and endurance. In addition, good nutrition and routine physical
Rear Admiral Kenneth P. Moritsugu activity promote health by lowering the risk for heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and osteoporosis. The Administration on Aging Web site (www.aoa.gov/) notes some interesting facts. Three fourths of African Americans and two thirds of white older Americans eat less than five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Inadequate calcium intake is responsible for up to two thirds of hip fractures in older Americans. Statistics for physical activity are also alarming, showing one third of older adults to be inactive, older women being less active than older men, and older African-American adults less active than older white adults. Promoting the healthful lifestyles of older people is vital in helping them to maintain health and functional independence and to lead healthy and independent lives. The Older Americans Act, originally signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965, sponsors many programs that benefit the senior population, helping them maintain their health and independence, such as Meals-on-Wheels. A more recent initiative to improve nutrition and physical activity in older adults is USA on the Move: Steps to Healthy Aging, a component of the HealthierUS Initiative established by President George W. Bush. Its premise is that simple, modest increases in daily activities can improve overall health, prevent disease and disability, and reduce health care costs for the nation. It teaches us that
© 2007 by the American Dietetic Association
an active, healthful lifestyle is a key component to successful aging. Eating Better and Moving More, the two steps in Steps to Healthy Aging, help even frail older adults prolong their independence and improve their quality of life. Caregivers of family members, who often neglect their own physical, nutritional, and mental health, also benefit from Eating Better and Moving More. The National Center for Health Statistics estimated in 2002 that the life expectancy for a 65-year-old man was 16.6 years and 19.5 years for a woman of the same age. Future generations of older Americans will most likely have a longer life expectancy than this generation. It is our challenge to ensure that all generations of Americans embrace a healthful lifestyle throughout their lives so that as they age, they do so not only happily, but also healthfully. Let’s work together to encourage Americans of all ages to live more healthful lives. Healthful living ensures that today’s older persons—as well as future generations—not only live longer, but also better. —Rear Admiral Kenneth P. Moritsugu, MD, MPH Acting US Surgeon General US Department of Health and Human Services doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2007.03.032
Journal of the AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION
723