Do changes in physical activity lead to dietary changes in middle and old age?

Introduction: Research examining the relationship between dietary factors a nd physical activity patterns has yielded conflicting findings. Few prospec tive studies have examined whether individuals who change their level of ph ysical activity make corresponding changes in their. diet. Methods: The current study examined, in two randomized clinical trials of p hysical activity:, whether self-report of dietary factors changed over a 1- year period, whether these changes differed by gender or exercise-intervent ion group, and whether changes in physical activity led to changes in dieta ry factors. Participants included 268 men and women aged 50-65 ears who par ticipated in the Stanford-Sunnyvale health Improvement Project I (SSHIP-I) and 103 men and women aged 65-82 years who participated in SSHIP-II, In bot h trials we recruited participants through random-digit telephone dialing a nd citywide promotion. Results: Overall, participants adopted healthier diets over the 1-year peri od. The SSHIP-I participants decreased their consumption of total calories, total fat, saturated fat, protein, and cholesterol, The SSHIP-II participa nts decreased their consumption of high-fat, high-cholesterol foods. The SS HIP-I women were more likely than men to decrease their intake of total fat and protein (p < 0.01), as well as total calories, saturated fat, and chol esterol (p < 0.05). However, we found that changes in physical activity wer e not associated with changes in self-report measures of dietary habits. Conclusions: We found no evidence to support the idea that changes in physi cal activity are a gateway for changes in dietary: factors in middle-aged a nd older adults.