Physical activity and dietary patterns among middle-aged and older adults: insights from the Brazilian longitudinal study of aging (ELSI-BRAZIL)

In Brazil, nearly 25% of the population is aged 50 and older, and understanding lifestyle behaviors is crucial to devise strategies to address the rising of chronic diseases. This study examined physical activity and dietary patterns in Brazilian adults (50 and plus) as a function of sex and age. Data from the second wave of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-BRAZIL; n = 9,949) were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Physical activity was significantly (p<0.001) associated with sex and age. More males reported engaging in more than once a week in vigorous (12.1%) and moderate physical activity (22%) compared to females (8.7% and 19.1%, respectively); while more females (44.6%) reported engaging in light physical activity. Similarly, more younger adults (50-59) reported engaging in more than once a week in vigorous (13.6%), moderate (23%), and light (44.7%) physical activity compared to older age groups. Logistic regression demonstrated that females were 16% more likely to be physically inactive (<150 min/week) than males (OR=1.16; 1.07-1.26), and adults aged 80+ were 2.13 times more likely to be inactive than those aged 50-59 (OR=2.13; 1.82-2.50). Diet was also significantly (p<0.05) associated with sex and age. Females were significantly less likely to report low vegetable (OR=0.76; 0.66-0.88) and fruit consumption (OR=0.84; 0.75-0.95), but more likely to report low red meat intake (OR=1.30; 1.14-1.50), compared to males. Older adults (60 and plus) were significantly (p<0.05) less likely to report low vegetable (OR range:0.72-0.83), fruit (OR range: 0.56–0.83) and juice consumption (OR range: 0.66-0.73). Sex and age significantly influence physical activity and diet behaviors among adults in Brazil. These findings may help with the development of targeted public health interventions that address age and sex specific needs to promote physical activity and diet, and consequently healthy aging.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Community Health

Grantor

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2025

Author dc:creator

• Bakare, Jemimah Oluwapelumi

Contributors dc:contributor

• Sebastião, Emerson

• Active Aging
• Global South
• Healthy Eating
• Healthy Lifestyle
• Health Promotion.

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2025 Jemimah Bakare

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129609

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F129609