Department of Health and Human Services
Administration on Aging

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Health Information

Physical Activity and Nutrition

Proper nutrition as part of an active, healthy lifestyle is a key to successful aging. An active lifestyle includes some kind of regular physical activity. We feel that when providing information about physical activity or nutrition, it is important to mention both eating better and exercising regularly. Remember that how well you eat and how much or little you exercise now affects not only your present state of health but also later life.

Many factors contribute to a lack of nutritional health in older people. Eating too much or too little, eating alone, taking medications, suffering from chronic diseases or conditions, financial difficulties, and needing assistance with care are just a few examples of what can affect your eating habits. Whether you are a caregiver or an older American it is important to eat foods rich in nutrients and reduce your intake of empty calories.
For more information on eating healthy as well as our nutrition programs, visit the Nutrition section of our website.

Inactivity often increases with age. Surveys show that by age 75, one-in-three men and one-in-two women are not physically active. Physical activity can help older adults prolong their independence and improve their quality of life. It can also improve mood and relieve depression, too. Staying physically active on a regular, permanent basis can help prevent or delay certain diseases (such as some types of cancer, heart disease, or diabetes) and disabilities as people grow older. Regular exercise can even improve management of some diseases and disabilities in older people who already have them.

Check with local churches or synagogues, senior and civic centers, parks, recreation associations, or even local shopping malls for exercise, wellness, or walking programs to help you find an exercise program. You can also call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., EST, or visit http://www.eldercare.gov/ to find aging services in your community.

To find out about the benefits of nutrition, physical activity, how to increase your physical activity, or for specific types of exercises, use the resource links below.

You Can! Steps to Healthier Aging

One way that we demonstrate this commitment to nutrition and physical activity is our support of the President’s HealthierUS initiative http://healthierus.gov/. and http://healthierus.gov/steps/ As a part of these initiatives, AoA is supporting the Steps to Healthy Aging initiative. Eating better and moving more, the two steps in Steps to Healthier Aging, are designed to improve nutrition and physical activity in older adults. For more information on about the You Can! campaign go to:http://www.aoa.gov/youcan/

General Resource Links:

Disclaimer: References from this web page or from any of the information services sponsored by AoA to any non-governmental entity, product, service or information does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the Administration on Aging or any of its employees. AoA is not responsible for the contents of any "off-site" web pages referenced from this server. Although our page includes links to sites including or referencing good collections of information, AoA does not endorse ANY specific products or services provided by public or private organizations. By using this site, the user takes full responsibility for any use of these links.

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