Abstract
The principal objective of this study was to assess the effects of eating habits and health-related lifestyle on blood pressure, $\gamma$-Glutamic acid Peptide Transferase ($\gamma$-GPT), glucose and HDL-Cholesterol (HDL-C). All subjects (261 male, 252 female) were from the Iksan area of Korea, and were at least 50 years of age. The mean systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and HDL-C for all the subjects was 131.3 mmHg, 78.5 mmHg, and 43.1 mg/dl, respectively. The HDL-C of the $50{\sim}64$ year-old group was higher than that of the over-75-year-old group. The "regular breakfast" group evidenced a lower SBP, $\gamma$-GPT, and higher HDL-C than the "seldom breakfast" group (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.01). SBP in the "snacking everyday" group was higher than that of the "seldom snacking" group (p<0.001). As for the frequency of using alcohol, SBP and $\gamma$-GPT for the group using alcohol everyday were higher than those of the non-drinking group (p<0.001, p<0.001), SBP and DBP were higher and $\gamma$-GPT was lower in the group that regularly drank more than 4 glasses of Soju than in the non-drinking group (p<0.001, p<0.05, p<0.001). SBP, DBP, and $\gamma$-GPT for the "heavy smoker" group were higher than those of the non-smoker group (p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.05). The HDL-C was lower in the "heavy smoker" group than in the "non-smoker" group (p<0.05). The SBP with exercise was as follows: Group 1 ($0.022{\sim}0.073\;kcal/min/kg$) was lower than that of Group 3 ($0.144{\sim}0.161\;kcal/min/kg$) and Group 4 (0.161 kcal/min/kg) (p<0.001). To conclude: advancing age, snacking, and frequent alcohol consumption increased blood pressure; the lowest blood pressure was detected in the group that ate breakfast everyday and in the group that engaged in more frequent exercise; Moreover, $\gamma$-GPT was higher and HDL-C was lower in the smokers' group than in the non-smokers' group. Considering the results of this study, there appears to be an urgent need to instruct aging adults about eating breakfast everyday, reducing smoking, using less or no alcohol, and getting proper and regular exercise.