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The promotion of physical activity is important for fostering healthy aging. However, a substantial proportion of older adults remain sedentary. Current metrics assessing the energy cost of physical activity are primarily designed for the general adult population and inadequately account for distinct physiological changes in older individuals-encompassing variations in muscle mass, bone density, metabolism, and overall functional capacity. This study aimed to determine the energy cost of selected physical activities of Filipino older persons. This cross-sectional study conducted in Taguig City involved 19 older adults aged 60-79 yr using the COSMED Fitmate indirect calorimeter for resting metabolic rate determination, as well as the portable COSMED K5 indirect calorimeter for measuring energy cost of different physical activities-including treadmill walking, self-paced walking, a routine based on the DOST-FNRI manual, and multi-gym equipment. The outcomes of the study were presented in percentages and averages. Participants in the study were categorized based on their muscle strength and mass. Analysis revealed a consistent trend where older adults with lower appendicular skeletal muscle mass index and handgrip strength values demonstrated lower metabolic equivalent values across the different exercise routines. Notably, Routine 2 displayed an exception, with individuals above the 50th percentile of ASMI and HGS exhibiting lower METs than those below the 50th percentile. This study contributes insights into the energy cost of specific activities among older adults emphasizing the importance of physical activity in healthy aging and providing valuable information for tailored interventions and a nuanced understanding of energy expenditure in this age group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted to determine the awareness of and adherence to the food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) among household meal planners in the Philippines. The data were collected from 9754 meal planners nationwide during the conduct of the 2015 Updating Survey of Nutritional Status of Filipino Children and Other Population Groups. A pre-tested survey questionnaire was administered to the respondents by trained researchers through face-to-face interview. Questions included were on awareness about the four FBDGs - 2012 Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos (NGF); Kumainments (localized and simplified version of NGF); Pinggang Pinoy® (a plate-like pictorial model); and the Daily Nutritional Guide Pyramid (DNGP) - and food intake practices relative to the 2012 NGF. Findings of the study showed low nationwide reach of the four FBDGs. The meal planners were most aware of the DNGP (35.8%) and Kumainments (27.5%). They have least awareness on Pinggang Pinoy® (10.6%). The most often recalled message was "Eat fruits and vegetables" in the NGF (28.1%) and in Kumainments (35.2%), while about 25% mentioned "Eat a variety of foods everyday". The respondents had limited adherence to the dietary guidelines. The most adhered message was "limit intake of salty, fried, or fatty and sugar-rich foods" (74-91%), while only one-half of the respondents adhered to the guideline "eat a variety of foods everyday". Intake of other food/food groups (vegetables, protein-rich foods, and calcium-rich foods) was done about 2-4 times per week. There is a need to strengthen and harmonize the dissemination efforts of FBDGs not only among meal planners, but also among various segments of the population using various media channels. Continued refinement of communication strategies used for FBDG implementation - as well as regular monitoring and evaluation - should be done to improve FBDG's usefulness and effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]