OBJECTIVES: Age group variations in dietary intake and physical activity have been noted in large epidemiologic studies. In this study, specific measures of behavioral strategies add depth to our understanding of these variations and can contribute to the design of effective behavioral interventions. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, behavioral epidemiologic study. SETTING: Rural Midwestern US. PARTICIPANTS: 407 adults. MEASUREMENTS: Measures included dietary intake, physical activity, body mass index (BMI), and specific behavioral strategies related to diet and physical activity. RESULTS: Use of most strategies related to diet increased across age groups, which was consistent with declining caloric intake and a decline in the proportion of total caloric intake from fat. The same patterns were not found with regard to physical activity. Greater use of diet-related strategies was noted in the oldest age groups compared to the others even though BMI was lower. CONCLUSIONS: In the oldest age group at least, strategy use may be more related to attempts to control health conditions than body weight. The findings provide a unique perspective on age group differences in diet and physical activity behavior. Longitudinal tracking of these specific behaviors and their measurement in other populations is warranted.
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