Aging is generally defined as a process of deterioration in the functional capacity of an individual that results from structural changes, with advancement of age. With the advancement of science and technology and through its meaningful utilization for good living, the pyramid population structure has changed into a cylindrical structure. There is no United Nations standard numerical criterion, but the UN agreed cutoff is 60+ years when referring to the elderly population⁽¹⁾ India is in a phase of demographic transition. As per the 1991 census, the population of the elderly in India was 57 million as compared with 20 million in 1951. There has been a sharp increase in the number of elderly persons between 1991 and 2001 and it has been projected that by the year 2050, the number of elderly people would rise to about 324 million.⁽¹⁾ India has thus acquired the label of "an ageing nation" with 7.7% of its population being more than 60 years old. Considering the apparent increase in the elderly population, more strategies are being searched in order to promote a better quality of life and autonomy of this population segment. A universally applicable definition of what constitutes old age is elusive. In many developing countries, old age is seen to begin at the point when active contribution is no longer possible (Gorman &Heslop,2002 ) There were studies on effect of marital status ,influence of education ,role of socio-economic status on the ability of the elderly to perform basic activities of daily living. In India, the elderly people suffer from dual medical problems, i.e., both communicable as well as non-communicable diseases more than 50% suffer from one or more chronic conditions .According to Government of India statistics, cardiovascular disorders account for one-third of elderly mortality⁽¹⁾. Old age is accompanied with a number of diseases. It varies from person to person depending upon their life style, heredity, eating habits ,socio economic standards etc. Current study was planned to find effect of previous lifestyle on current health status. 

Aim:   To find effect of Lifestyle on Health status of Senior Citizens

Objectives:  Detail history

1. Regarding type of job activity
2. Mode of transport to workplace
3. Habits
4. Diet history

Current health status by history of Present illness

We visited the senior citizens club in Dhule city. Senior Citizens attending the club regularly were selected for the study. The Permission of institutional Ethical committee was sought through proper channel. The questionnaire was developed by reviewing related Indian studies. A total of 56 subjects were interviewed using this questionnaire by a trained health educator who was one of the investigators in this study. The interview was carried out in the local language. The purpose of the study was explained to them and oral informed consent was obtained. Care was also taken to ensure privacy and confidentiality of the interview as part of the study.A detail history regarding exercise, diet and habits was taken.

Questionnaire: Preliminary data: --

1. Personal data:

    Name: --

     Age: -                  Yrs.                     Sex: - Male/Female

    Address: -

    Occupation: -

1. Diet details: -

                Veg/ Mixed/ Non-veg.

                       If non-veg.   Frequency of consumption:

1. History regarding medical illness

Any complaints at present.

1. Personal History: - frequency;

Habits such as smoking/snuffing/ tobacco chewing/

                          Appling mishri/ Alcohol/Gutkha            Duration;

                          Use of drugs               

Occupational History: -

     History regarding the nature of work

                         Ambulatory. /Non-ambulatory

Mode of Transport use for workplace

        Walking /Bicycle /Two-wheeler /Four-wheeler /Bus

1. History regarding exercise: -

Type of exercise (game) played: -

Time of training/day.                           Morning/            Hrs/day.

                                                             Evening/             Hrs/day.

Table No. I: Division of Groups based on their health status

Table No. II: Mode of transport in both groups

Table No.III: Body Mass Index in both the groups

(Obesity was assessed using B.M.I unit kg/m² ,

                            B.M.I. normal 20-25kg/m², >25kg/m² overweight ¹³)

Table No.IV: Type of diet in both the groups

Total 56 subjects were included in the study, 29 of them were apparently healthy and 27 revealed health problems. From table II it is evident that 72.41% of healthy individuals were using walking/bicycle as a mode of transport, on the contrary 51.85% of gr.II were using walking/bicycle as a mode of transport.

Five or six decades back people use to depend more on natural resources and use to do more physical work and have natural diet. But gradually it is being replaced by artificial things in all aspect and now we are paying price for it. For that we tried to correlate current health status with previous lifestyle. We compared lifestyle of healthy group with those having health problems. We took into consideration mode of transport to and fro from the workplace, distance between residence and workplace, type of diet and habits if any. It was observed that 72.41% of Gr I who were in good health used walking /bicycle as a mode of transport to and fro to workplace, on the contrary only 51.85% of Gr.II were using walking /bicycle as a mode of transport. This indicates that regular physical work makes body fit and fine for long run and maintains body reserve which nature has given as a backup for stressful situation. If this reserve declines’ this gives invitation to diseases. Some reports have revealed that cardiovascular diseases (i.e. hypertension, diabetes, angina and/or myocardial infarction) are less common in centenarians respect to 70 and 80 years old persons , centenarians in general have needed fewer drugs at younger ages due to a healthy lifestyle^.(2)

The positive effect of using walking /bicycle as a mode of transport is again evident when we compare B.M.I of both groups.In Gr I only 24.14% are obese as(B.M.I >25kg/m²)as compared to gr.II in which 49.15% were obese. Indicating poor physical work leads to deposition of fat and increasing risk for cardiac and joint diseases.  Obesity is associated with significant increase in morbidity and mortality. A body mass index (BMI) of 26 or more is a significant risk factor for diabetes and BMI > 30 is significantly associated with arthritis and hypertension (WHO, 2000) ^(3).

Elderly people who belong to middle and higher income groups are prone to develop obesity and its related complications due to a sedentary lifestyle and decreased physical activity⁽⁴⁾

 Adding further burden on Gr II was dietary habits 49.15% were non vegetarians which can be an addition factor for increase fat intake adding risk of obesity and its consequences. On the contrary 82.75% of Gr.I were pure vegetarians which can be positive factor for lower incidence of obesity in them. Ample research indicates that age-related neuronal behavioral decrements are the result of oxidative stress that may be ameliorated by antioxidants. Joseph et al. (1999) showed that rats given dietary supplements of fruit and vegetable extracts with high antioxidant activity for 8 months beginning at 6 months of age retarded age-related declines in neuronal and cognitive function.⁽⁵⁾ There is a strong association between nutrition and many degenerative disorders commonly affecting the ageing.

When we looked in the type of health problems in Gr.II the most prevalent disease was Diabetes mellitus in 30%, Hypertension in 30% and 15% were having both Diabetes mellitus & Hypertension. 10% were having joint problems. According to study by Bhatia S study of health problems  among the elderly in Chandigarh the main health-related problems among the aged were those of the circulatory system (51.2%), with about two-fifths (41.6%) suffering from hypertension^(6). According to study by A Lena, in UdupiTaluk, Karnataka 2009 the most common being hypertension, osteoarthritis, diabetes, or bronchial Asthma. ⁽⁷⁾

If we correlate these health problems with their lifestyle it will not be a surprise that they were going through major risk factors which were easily preventable. Say sedentary lifestyle which leads to obesity which is a known risk factor for Diabetes mellitus, Hypertension and  joint problems. Adding to that high fat diet through nonvegetarian food so more input with less output which is again giving birth to obesity and its related complication. According to study   by   Vanisha S. Nambiar^.(8)  in Postmenopausal Women  high blood pressure ranked first followed by arthritis, heart problems and diabetes mellitus and a combination of one or more of these. Catherine Robb and colleagues provide clear evidence from a robust cohort study that consistent, healthy lifestyle practices—across diet, activity, smoking, and alcohol—are beneficial for longevity in older individuals, with the most substantial benefit seen when all recommended behaviors are maintained.⁽⁹) Nounagnon Frutueux Agbangla article offers a consolidated overview of high-level evidence that physical activity significantly benefits both the physical and mental well-being of older adults residing in care settings.⁽¹⁰⁾ study by Raghunath Mandi1reinforces that physical activity is strongly linked to better healthy ageing outcomes.⁽¹¹⁾ Shobhit Srivastavaet concluded need for emotional, social, and environmental support to enhance perceived living satisfaction^.(12)   They concluded in their study that the middle age is a turning point for the onset of several changes in the lifestyle as well as the disease profile. This group should therefore be dealt with special attention such that their enhanced life expectancy would allow them to lead a healthy life as active senior citizens of our nation

Comparing the lifestyle of Gr.I it is evident that regular physical work in the form of simply walking or bicycle to and fro the workplace and proper diet keeps one healthy and fit and away from major metabolic diseases which are going to be global epidemic.

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