ASSESSMENT OF HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AMONG AGED PEOPLE IN OWO, COMMUNITY.

The concept of a healthy lifestyle, often characterized by regular physical activity, balanced nutrition, and the adoption of preventive healthcare measures, holds the promise of fostering wellness and resilience in the elderly. This study assessed the healthy lifestyle among aged people in Owo, community Ondo State, Nigeria. Specifically, it assessed the level of knowledge and practice of healthy lifestyle, and the factors influencing practice of healthy lifestyle among respondents. Relevant theoretical and empirical literature was surveyed in line with the study objectives, with the Health Promotion Model serving as the guiding theoretical framework. A descriptive cross-sectional research design and multistage sampling technique was adopted, while Cochran formula for population size determination was used to select a representative sample size of 422 respondents for the study. Data collection relied on a self-structured questionnaire, and subsequent analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Descriptive analysis was performed alongside Chi-Square testing, allowing for hypothesis examination at a significance level of 0.05. Ethical consideration was obtained as required. The study's outcomes revealed a good knowledge level of 73.5% and adequate practice level of 54.0% among respondents. Factors influencing the practice of healthy lifestyle include lack of motivation and inadequate time for physical activity, lack of access to healthy foods, inability to afford healthy foods, inability to afford medical checkup, and insufficient money to purchase multivitamin supplements. Additionally, the study found a significant relationship between level of education and level of knowledge on healthy lifestyle among respondents (P=0.011). The researcher recommends that efforts should be made to implement health education programs teaching aged people the benefits of physical activity, balanced nutrition, and preventive healthcare measures. Word count: 246 words Key words: Knowledge, Practice, Factors, Healthy Lifestyle, Aged people.