title: Senior Centers and Nutritional Outcomes: A Texas Example.
abstract: Healthy diet and weight control are important for elders and senior centers (SCs). The authors consider effects of SCs on attendee nutrition and health and efforts to improve diets and weight. Data derive from surveys in 2006 (N = 798) and 2007 (N = 742) at 21 multipurpose SCs in Tarrant County, Texas, supplemented with data from 2012 (N = 1,402). Measures included attendee agreement that SC meals improved nutrition, improved health, attempts to improve diets, and success in controlling weight. Cumulative and binary logistic regression methods were employed. SC attendance and social engagement explained agreement that SC meals improved nutrition and health but were not shown to predict changes in diet or weight control. Findings suggest success of SC programs, as well as physician recommendations, in influencing attendee nutritional behavior and perceptions of nutrition and health effects. Practice recommendations include SC collaborations with local health providers to promote attendee nutritional health.
authors.affiliation: a Programs in Applied Gerontology, University of North Texas , Denton , Texas , USA.
authors.forename: James H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Swan
authors.affiliation: b Senior Citizen Services of Greater Tarrant County, Inc. , Fort Worth , Texas , USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Severance
authors.affiliation: a Programs in Applied Gerontology, University of North Texas , Denton , Texas , USA.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Turner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D016017:Odds Ratio; D064407:Senior Centers; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas
keywords: Andersen behavioral model; Senior centers; health improvement; meals programs; nutrition; primary care provider recommendations