Diet and walking trial finds mixed quality-of-life results
Among older Australians, average quality-of-life changes did not differ significantly, although fewer programme participants experienced a decline and programme costs were higher.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Over the trial, the Mediterranean diet and walking programme did not produce a statistically significant advantage in average quality-of-life utility scores. A separate analysis found fewer participants with declining quality of life. These results suggest a possible difference in maintaining quality of life, while leaving the overall average benefit uncertain.
The abstract does not report participant numbers or the size of the mean utility-score difference. Follow-up beyond the trial is needed to assess whether the pattern persists.
What researchers found
Participants whose quality of life declined
MedWalk versus control over 12 months; proportions with reduced quality-of-life utility scores.
Two ways of reading the outcome
The primary outcome was change in a questionnaire-based quality-of-life utility score. Researchers also grouped participants by whether their quality of life fell, stayed stable or improved; that separate analysis produced the favourable result.
What the cost analysis adds
The programme cost more per participant than the control condition. Costs covered delivery staff and foods supporting dietary change. The abstract does not establish whether that additional spending represents good value for the outcomes achieved.
The original publication
The cost of a Mediterranean Diet and walking intervention to reduce risk of dementia and improve quality of life in independent living populations in Australia: The MedWalk randomised controlled trial.
Bracci EL, Davis CR, Meyer D et al.
Br J Nutr · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41102970
- Record checked
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