| Abstract: | Active ageing is a key to healthy ageing. Both shopping and cooking behaviors are important part of social life and economically relevant activities for the elderly. Considering the food and health systems together, we have investigated whether these two activities can contribute to survivorship in the elders independent of physical and cognitive function. We have linked data for some 1800 people aged 65 or over in a nationally representative free-living Taiwanese elderly cohort (NAHSIT, 1999-V2000) to the National Death Registry for decedents´ time of death. During the 10-year follow-up (1999-2008), 695 participants died. Highly frequent shopping compared to never or rarely predicted survival (hazard ratio (HR)=0.54; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.43-0.67)) with adjustment covariates HR (95%CI) was 0.73 (0.56-0.93). Elderly who shopped every day have 27% less risk of death than the least frequent shoppers. Men benefited more from everyday shopping than women with decreased HR 28% versus 23% compared to the least. Tose who cooked most frequently were younger, women, unmarried, less educated, non-drinkers of alcohol, non-smokers, without chewing difficulty, had spouse as dinner companion, normal cognition, who walked or shopped more than twice weekly, who ate less meat and more vegetables. Highly frequent cooking (>5 times/week, compared with never) predicted survival (HR=0.47; 95 %CI, 0.36-0.61); with adjustment for physical function, cognitive function, nutrition knowledge awareness and other covariates, HR (95%CI) was 0.59 (0.41-0.86). Women benefited more from cooking than did men, with decreased HR, 51% vs. 24%, when most was compared with least. Both shopping and cooking behaviors favorably predict survival. Highly frequent shopping favors men, however, highly frequent cooking favors women. Shopping and cooking capture several dimensions of personal well-being, health and security as well as contributing to the community’s cohesiveness and economy and may represent or actually confer increased longevity. |
