[Lifestyle of Dutch people aged 55-64 years less healthy in 2002/'03 than in 1992/'93].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the lifestyle of men and women aged 55-64 years in The Netherlands in 2002/'03 and compare it with the lifestyle of people of the same age in 1992/'93.


METHODS
Descriptive.


METHODS
Data were used from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam. The study comprised two randomly selected samples from local municipal registers in 1992/'93 (n = 966) and 2002/'03 (n = 1002), stratified according to sex, age and expected 5-year survival. Participants were from 11 municipalities in the west, northeast and south of The Netherlands. Data were collected from interviews, measurements and a written questionnaire. The response was 62% in 1992/'93 and 57% in 2002/'03.


RESULTS
In 1992/'93, 9.5% of the men and 20.5% of the women were obese. Ten years later these percentages were 18.4 and 27.5. The percentage of current smokers was stable over time and included one-third of men and one-quarter of women. More people used alcohol in 2002/'03; excessive alcohol use was found in 15.7% of the men (11.7% in 1992/'93) and 19.5% of the women (11.1% in 1992/'93). The energy expended through walking, bicycling, household activities and sports was one-fifth less in 2002/'03.


CONCLUSIONS
The lifestyle of people aged 55-64 years in The Netherlands was less healthy in 2002/'03 than in 1992/'93. Because positive changes in lifestyle can reduce the risk of chronic diseases, functional limitations and early death, more attention to healthy living is necessary in this age group.
Visser
M
M
Vrije Universiteit, Faculteit der Aard- en Levenswetenschappen, Instituut voor Gezondheidswetenschappen, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam. marjolein.visser@falw.vu.nl
Pluijm
S M
SM
van der Horst
M H L
MH
Poppelaars
J L
JL
Deeg
D J H
DJ
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology