According to Gram Research analysis of 9,949 Brazilian adults, men exercise more than women, but both sexes become significantly less active with age, adults over 80 are 78% more likely to be inactive than those in their 50s. Women eat more vegetables and fruits while men eat more red meat, and older adults over 70 consume more fruit and juice than younger groups. These findings show that effective health programs need to be customized based on a person’s sex and age rather than using one-size-fits-all advice.
A major study of nearly 10,000 Brazilian adults over age 50 reveals important differences in how men and women exercise and eat as they get older. Researchers found that men tend to be more active than women, but both sexes become less active with age. Women eat more vegetables and fruits, while men eat more red meat. Older adults, especially those over 70, eat more fruit and juice than younger people. These findings suggest that doctors and health programs need to create different exercise and nutrition plans based on a person’s sex and age to help people stay healthy as they grow older.
Key Statistics
A cross-sectional analysis of 9,949 Brazilian adults aged 50+ found that adults aged 80 years and older were 78% more likely to be physically inactive compared to those aged 50-59 years.
According to research reviewed by Gram analyzing 9,949 Brazilian middle-aged and older adults, women reported significantly higher vegetable and fruit consumption than men, while men reported higher red meat intake across all age groups.
A 2026 study of 9,949 Brazilian adults found that older adults aged 70 and older reported more frequent fruit and juice consumption than younger age groups and were less likely to report low fruit intake.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: How physical activity levels and eating habits differ between men and women, and how these patterns change as people get older
- Who participated: 9,949 Brazilian adults aged 50 and older who were not living in institutions like nursing homes
- Key finding: Men exercise more than women, but both sexes exercise less as they age. Adults over 80 are 78% more likely to be inactive than those in their 50s. Women eat more vegetables and fruit, while men eat more red meat.
- What it means for you: If you’re a middle-aged or older adult, your doctor might recommend different exercise and eating plans depending on whether you’re male or female, and how old you are. This research suggests one-size-fits-all health advice may not work as well as personalized recommendations.
The Research Details
Researchers looked at information from 9,949 Brazilian adults who were part of a long-term health study called ELSI-Brazil. They asked people about how much they exercised using a standard questionnaire that’s used around the world. They also asked simple questions about how often people ate vegetables, fruits, juice, and red meat. The researchers then compared the answers between men and women, and between different age groups (50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and 80+ years old).
This type of study is called a cross-sectional study, which means researchers looked at all the information at one point in time, like taking a snapshot. They used special statistical methods that account for the fact that the study participants represent the larger Brazilian population. This helps make sure the findings apply beyond just the people who answered the survey.
Understanding how exercise and eating habits differ between men and women at different ages is important because it helps doctors and public health officials create better health programs. If we know that older men exercise less than younger men, we can design exercise programs specifically for older men. Similarly, knowing that women eat more vegetables helps us understand why men might need different nutrition advice. This research-based approach is much better than giving everyone the same generic health advice.
This study is strong because it included nearly 10,000 people from a well-established Brazilian health study, making the results likely to represent the broader population. The researchers used validated questionnaires that are recognized internationally. However, because this is a snapshot in time rather than following people over years, we can see differences between groups but can’t prove that age causes the changes in activity or eating habits. The study also relied on people’s memory of their habits, which can sometimes be inaccurate.
What the Results Show
Men were significantly more likely to engage in moderate and vigorous physical activity compared to women. This difference held true across all age groups studied. Physical activity declined sharply with age for both sexes. The most dramatic finding was that adults aged 80 and older were 78% more likely to be physically inactive compared to adults in their 50s. This means that if a 50-year-old has a certain activity level, an 80-year-old is much more likely to be sedentary.
Food consumption patterns also showed clear sex differences. Women reported eating vegetables and fruits more frequently than men. In contrast, men reported eating red meat more often than women. These differences were consistent across age groups. Interestingly, older adults showed different patterns than younger adults when it came to fruit and juice consumption. Adults aged 70 and older reported eating fruit and drinking juice more frequently than younger groups, and they were less likely to report eating fruit only rarely.
The research revealed that the relationship between age and food consumption is more complex than with physical activity. While activity drops steadily with age, fruit and juice consumption actually increased in older age groups. This suggests that older adults may be making conscious efforts to eat healthier foods, or they may have more time to prepare and eat fruits. The study also showed that vegetable consumption patterns were relatively stable across age groups, though women consistently reported higher intake than men.
These findings align with previous research showing that physical activity declines with age in most populations. However, the specific finding that older Brazilian adults eat more fruit and juice than younger adults is somewhat different from some Western studies, which may reflect cultural differences in eating patterns and food availability. The sex differences in physical activity are consistent with global research showing that men tend to be more physically active than women across most age groups.
This study has several important limitations to consider. First, it’s based on what people remember and report about their habits, which can be inaccurate, people might overestimate how much they exercise or eat healthy foods. Second, because the study only looked at one point in time, we can’t determine whether age causes the changes or if other factors are responsible. Third, the study only included non-institutionalized adults, so the findings don’t apply to people living in nursing homes or care facilities, who may have very different activity and eating patterns. Finally, the study was conducted in Brazil, so the results may not apply exactly to other countries with different cultures and food systems.
The Bottom Line
Based on this research, health professionals should develop exercise programs tailored to both sex and age. For example, programs for older men might focus on maintaining mobility and strength, while programs for older women might address different barriers to activity. Nutrition recommendations should also be personalized, men might benefit from guidance on reducing red meat consumption, while both sexes could benefit from eating more vegetables and fruits. These recommendations have moderate confidence because the research clearly shows these differences exist, though individual circumstances vary widely.
This research is most relevant to middle-aged and older adults (50+), their families, and healthcare providers. It’s particularly important for doctors, nurses, and health coaches who work with older populations. Public health officials designing community health programs should also pay attention to these findings. The research applies most directly to Brazilian populations but offers insights that may be useful in other countries as well.
Changes in physical activity and eating habits typically take 4-8 weeks to become noticeable in terms of how you feel, and 8-12 weeks to see measurable health improvements like better energy levels or weight changes. However, the long-term benefits of consistent exercise and healthy eating accumulate over months and years, so patience and consistency are important.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do men and women exercise differently as they get older?
Yes. Research shows men exercise more than women at all ages, but both sexes become much less active with age. Adults over 80 are 78% more likely to be inactive than those in their 50s, suggesting age is a major factor in declining physical activity.
What foods do older adults eat more of?
A study of 9,949 Brazilian adults found that people over 70 eat more fruit and drink more juice than younger adults. However, women consistently eat more vegetables and fruits than men across all age groups.
Should men and women follow the same exercise recommendations?
Research suggests personalized recommendations work better. Since men tend to be more active and women face different barriers to exercise, tailored programs for each sex and age group are more effective than generic advice for everyone.
Why do older adults eat more fruit than younger people?
The study doesn’t explain why, but older adults may have more time to prepare food, be more health-conscious, or have different food preferences. This pattern differs from some Western countries, suggesting cultural factors may play a role.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track daily physical activity minutes and type (moderate vs. vigorous), plus daily servings of vegetables and fruits. Set age and sex-appropriate goals based on current activity level.
- Users can set personalized activity goals based on their sex and age group, receive reminders for vegetable and fruit intake, and track progress against tailored benchmarks rather than generic recommendations.
- Monthly review of activity trends and food consumption patterns, with automatic alerts if activity drops significantly or fruit/vegetable intake decreases, allowing users to adjust habits before decline becomes severe.
This research describes patterns in physical activity and eating habits among Brazilian adults and should not be interpreted as medical advice. Individual health needs vary based on personal medical history, medications, and health conditions. Before making significant changes to your exercise routine or diet, consult with your healthcare provider, especially if you have existing health conditions, take medications, or are over 65 years old. This study is observational and cannot prove that age causes changes in activity or eating habits, only that differences exist between age groups.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.
