Researchers studied 1,729 active older adults in South Korea to understand what helps them stay healthy and independent. They found something surprising: while exercise is important, what seniors eat and whether they avoid smoking and alcohol made an even bigger difference in their daily life and healthcare costs. The study suggests that for people who already exercise regularly, paying attention to nutrition, avoiding harmful substances, and getting good rest creates the best results for staying healthy as we age.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How different lifestyle habits—like exercise, diet, sleep, and avoiding smoking and alcohol—affect the health and independence of older adults who are already physically active.
  • Who participated: 1,729 older adults in South Korea who exercise regularly. These were people who were already doing physical activity, so researchers wanted to see what else helped them stay healthy.
  • Key finding: Among active seniors, eating well, taking nutritional supplements, not smoking, and avoiding alcohol were linked to better daily functioning and lower healthcare costs. Surprisingly, exercise alone didn’t show as strong a connection to these benefits.
  • What it means for you: If you’re an older adult who already exercises, focusing on what you eat and avoiding smoking and alcohol may help you stay more independent and reduce medical expenses. However, this doesn’t mean exercise isn’t important—it means combining exercise with good nutrition and healthy habits works best.

The Research Details

This was a cross-sectional study, which means researchers looked at a large group of people at one point in time rather than following them over years. They used data from South Korea’s 2023 National Survey on Physical Activity, which surveyed 1,729 older adults who were already physically active. The researchers asked these seniors about their exercise habits, diet, sleep, smoking, alcohol use, and how well they could do daily activities. They then used statistical tools to find connections between these lifestyle behaviors and health outcomes like independence and healthcare costs.

This research approach is important because it looks at real-world data from actual seniors rather than controlled lab settings. By studying people who already exercise, researchers could see what additional habits make the biggest difference in quality of life and healthcare spending—information that’s practical for aging communities.

This study has some strengths: it included a large number of participants (1,729) and used established statistical methods. However, because it’s cross-sectional, it shows connections between behaviors and outcomes but can’t prove that one causes the other. The study also relied on people’s own reports of their health and habits, which can sometimes be less accurate than objective measurements. The findings are specific to South Korea and may not apply equally to other countries with different healthcare systems or cultures.

What the Results Show

The most striking finding was that diet management and nutritional supplements showed stronger connections to better daily functioning and lower healthcare costs than exercise alone did. Seniors who managed their diet well and took supplements reported needing less help with daily activities and spending less on healthcare. Similarly, not smoking and avoiding alcohol were consistently linked to these positive outcomes. In contrast, regular physical activity—while still important—showed weaker connections to these benefits, except for a modest link to reduced healthcare costs. Getting adequate rest showed minimal association with the measured outcomes.

The study found that when seniors reported improvements in their daily functioning and healthcare costs, they also reported feeling healthier overall and more satisfied with their fitness level. This suggests that the practical benefits of lifestyle changes (like being able to do more activities independently) may be just as important as the physical changes from exercise.

Previous research has emphasized exercise as the primary tool for healthy aging, and this study doesn’t contradict that. However, it adds important nuance by showing that among people who already exercise, other lifestyle factors—particularly nutrition and avoiding harmful substances—may have stronger immediate impacts on daily life and healthcare spending. This suggests a more balanced approach to aging well.

The study has several important limitations. First, it only looked at people at one point in time, so we can’t know if these lifestyle habits actually caused the health improvements or if healthier people simply tend to have better habits. Second, all information came from what people reported about themselves, which can be inaccurate. Third, the study was conducted in South Korea, so results may differ in other countries with different healthcare systems, cultures, and food availability. Finally, because the study only included people who already exercise, the findings may not apply to sedentary older adults.

The Bottom Line

For older adults who already exercise regularly: prioritize good nutrition and consider nutritional supplements (moderate confidence). Avoid smoking and limit alcohol consumption (high confidence). Maintain regular physical activity as part of an overall healthy lifestyle (high confidence). Get adequate sleep and rest (moderate confidence). Work with healthcare providers to create a comprehensive wellness plan that addresses all these areas together.

This research is most relevant to older adults who already exercise and want to optimize their health and independence. It’s also important for family members, caregivers, and healthcare providers working with active seniors. The findings may be less applicable to sedentary older adults, who should first focus on starting an exercise program. People with specific medical conditions should consult their doctors before making major lifestyle changes.

Improvements in daily functioning and healthcare costs may take several months to become noticeable as lifestyle changes accumulate. Some benefits, like feeling more energetic from better nutrition, might appear within weeks. Long-term benefits to independence and reduced healthcare costs typically develop over 6-12 months or longer of consistent healthy habits.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily nutrition intake (servings of fruits, vegetables, protein) and supplement use, plus weekly exercise minutes and sleep hours. Monitor self-reported ability to perform daily activities (like climbing stairs, grocery shopping, or household chores) on a monthly basis.
  • Use the app to set specific nutrition goals (e.g., ’eat vegetables at 3 meals daily’), log supplement intake, and track alcohol consumption. Create reminders for meal planning and supplement timing. Set exercise and sleep targets, then monitor how these changes affect your ability to do daily activities.
  • Monthly check-ins on independence level and energy. Quarterly reviews of healthcare visits and costs. Track the combination of all behaviors together rather than focusing on exercise alone. Use the app to identify which lifestyle changes correlate most with your personal improvements in daily functioning.

This research describes associations between lifestyle behaviors and health outcomes in a specific population of active seniors in South Korea. It does not prove that changing one behavior will cause specific health improvements. Individual results vary based on genetics, existing health conditions, medications, and other factors. Before making significant changes to exercise, diet, supplements, or substance use, consult with your healthcare provider, especially if you have chronic conditions or take medications. This information is educational and should not replace personalized medical advice from qualified healthcare professionals.