title: Food shopping habits, physical activity and health-related indicators among adults aged ≥70 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the food shopping habits of older adults in the UK and explore their potential associations with selected health-related indicators.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study including objectively measured physical activity levels, BMI, physical function and self-reported health status and dietary intake.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bristol, UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 240 older adults aged ≥70 years living independently.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age was 78·1 (sd 5·7) years; 66·7 % were overweight or obese and 4 % were underweight. Most (80·0 %) carried out their own food shopping; 53·3 % shopped at least once weekly. Women were more likely to shop alone (P < 0·001) and men more likely to shop with their spouse (P < 0·001). Men were more likely than women to drive to food shopping (P < 0·001), with women more likely to take the bus or be driven (P < 0·001). Most reported ease in purchasing fruit and vegetables (72·9 %) and low-fat products (67·5 %); 19·2 % reported low fibre intakes and 16·2 % reported high fat intakes. Higher levels of physical function and physical activity and better general health were significantly correlated with the ease of purchasing fresh fruit, vegetables and low-fat products. Shopping more often was associated with higher fat intake (P = 0·03); higher levels of deprivation were associated with lower fibre intake (P = 0·019).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest a pattern of food shopping carried out primarily by car at least once weekly at large supermarket chains, with most finding high-quality fruit, vegetables and low-fat products easily accessible. Higher levels of physical function and physical activity and better self-reported health are important in supporting food shopping and maintaining independence.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, 8 Priory Road, Bristol BS81TZ, UK. Janice.thompson@bristol.ac.uk
authors.forename: Janice L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bentley
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coulson
authors.forename: Afroditi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stathi
authors.forename: Kenneth R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Fox
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001336:Automobiles; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D058870:Food, Organic; D005638:Fruit; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014186:Transportation; D006113:United Kingdom; D014675:Vegetables; D016138:Walking