TY - JOUR
T1 - Successful aging and lifestyle comparison of Greeks living in Greece and abroad
T2 - the epidemiological Mediterranean Islands Study (MEDIS)
AU - Papadimitriou, Anastasia
AU - Foscolou, Alexandra
AU - Itsiopoulos, Catherine
AU - Thodis, Antonia
AU - Kouris-Blazos, Antigone
AU - Brazionis, Laima
AU - Sidossis, Amalia C.
AU - Polychronopoulos, Evangelos A.
AU - Kokkinos, Peter
AU - Panagiotakos, Demosthenes
AU - Sidossis, Labros S.
N1 - Funding Information:
The MEDIS study was supported by research grants from the Hellenic Heart Foundation , the Graduate Program of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University , and Rutgers University , NJ, USA.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021
PY - 2021/11/1
Y1 - 2021/11/1
N2 - Objectives: Comparing lifestyle and successful aging between Greeks living in Greece (GG) and Greeks living abroad (GA) using a multidimensional model of successful aging including both biomedical and non-medical components. Methods: Anthropometric, clinical, psychological, socio-demographic, dietary and lifestyle parameters were assessed in a random sample of 252 GG and 252 GA. Successful aging was evaluated using the validated successful aging index (SAI range 0-10). Results: GA had better financial and educational status and scored higher in all social activity parameters (p's < 0.05). GA were more likely to be physically active (p < 0.001), had higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet (p < 0.001) and were less likely to be smoking (p = 0.008). Depression was more evident among GG compared to GA (p < 0.001). GA was aging significantly more successfully than GG (p < 0.001). Men irrespective of location were aging significantly more successfully than women (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Place of residence and personal choices significantly affect the level of healthy aging among people with similar genetic backgrounds.
AB - Objectives: Comparing lifestyle and successful aging between Greeks living in Greece (GG) and Greeks living abroad (GA) using a multidimensional model of successful aging including both biomedical and non-medical components. Methods: Anthropometric, clinical, psychological, socio-demographic, dietary and lifestyle parameters were assessed in a random sample of 252 GG and 252 GA. Successful aging was evaluated using the validated successful aging index (SAI range 0-10). Results: GA had better financial and educational status and scored higher in all social activity parameters (p's < 0.05). GA were more likely to be physically active (p < 0.001), had higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet (p < 0.001) and were less likely to be smoking (p = 0.008). Depression was more evident among GG compared to GA (p < 0.001). GA was aging significantly more successfully than GG (p < 0.001). Men irrespective of location were aging significantly more successfully than women (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Place of residence and personal choices significantly affect the level of healthy aging among people with similar genetic backgrounds.
KW - Healthy aging
KW - Healthy immigrant effect
KW - Lifestyle
KW - Mediterranean
KW - Successful aging
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85115035442
U2 - 10.1016/j.archger.2021.104523
DO - 10.1016/j.archger.2021.104523
M3 - Article
C2 - 34537513
AN - SCOPUS:85115035442
SN - 0167-4943
VL - 97
SP - 1
EP - 7
JO - Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
JF - Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
M1 - 104523
ER -