Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Abstract Background: Medical and health advances have led to relative increases in human longevity
and elderly population. Common diseases in elders can be prevented using healthy lifestyle.
Identifying current status of the elderly is necessary to design educational intervention programs
to improve their health and quality of life. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing the lifestyle of
the elderly in Islamshar (suburban of Tehran). Materials and Methods: A descriptive – analytical
study conducted among 480 elderly people over 60 years old referred to Islamshahr Health
Center of Tehran University of Medical Sciences for a period of 12 months in 2012–2013. Data
were collected through at two‑part questionnaire including sociodemographic and health‑related
characteristics and healthy lifestyle instrument. Healthy lifestyle of the elderly was assessed
using a 46 items self‑report standard instrument with five subscales reflecting domains including
exercise, nutrition, prevention, stress management, and social relationship. Finally, the data
obtained were analyzed using the SPSS 18 software using an independent t‑test, analysis of
variance and ordinal logistic regression test at a significant level of P < 0.05. Results: Mean
score of total healthy lifestyle was 148.56 ± 11.5. Men and women scored 151.95 ± 11.15 and
145 ± 10.32, respectively (P < 0.001). 76.2% of participants had moderately healthy lifestyle,
and 23.8% had desirable healthy lifestyle. Marital status and gender were important factors
in elderly healthy lifestyle. Discussion: The status of a healthy lifestyle among the elderly in
Islamshar was relatively moderate. However, more studies are needed for further information to
confirm study results. Study results were posed the necessity of tailoring specific interventional
programs to achieve desirable healthy lifestyle.