Summary: A new study from the University of British Columbia shows that older Canadian women who remain socially isolated over time are more likely to eat fewer fruits and vegetables, leading to lower overall diet quality. Using data from more than 30,000 adults followed for six years, researchers found that sustained social engagement—especially across a variety of meaningful activities—was associated with healthier eating patterns.
The analysis highlights that consistent participation in diverse social activities, such as volunteering, attending community events, visiting friends, or joining clubs, helps support better dietary habits in older women. Conversely, women who stayed socially isolated or who reduced the range of activities they took part in were more likely to fall short of recommended fruit and vegetable intake. Even women who became socially active after a period of isolation did not fully recover diet quality by the study’s end, suggesting that both the timing and type of social engagement matter for healthy eating.
Key facts:
- Long-term isolation: Women who remained isolated over time consumed fewer fruits and vegetables.
- Social variety matters: A broader range of social activities was linked to better diet quality.
- Later socialization may not reverse decline: Becoming socially active after isolation did not fully restore healthier eating patterns within the study period.
Source: University of British Columbia
Study overview
Researchers used data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), tracking 30,097 adults over a six-year period, to evaluate how changes in social engagement relate to dietary outcomes. The team focused on daily fruit and vegetable intake as a practical marker of diet quality and examined how persistent or changing patterns of social isolation and the breadth of social participation predicted later eating behaviors.
“We know social isolation reduces life expectancy, but most studies capture it at a single point,” said Dr. Annalijn Conklin, senior author and associate professor at UBC’s faculty of pharmaceutical sciences. “We wanted to understand the effects of persistent or changing isolation over time.”
Published in the journal Nutrients, the study evaluated a wide range of social activities—visiting friends and family, volunteering, club meetings, educational events, and recreational sports—and assessed not just whether people were socially connected but how varied their participation was.
Not all social activity is equal
The research found important nuances: simply increasing social contact after a period of isolation did not guarantee improved diet quality. Dr. Conklin noted that the kind of activities matters. Some social settings may encourage snacking or alcohol consumption—for example, certain game nights or social gatherings—so transitioning into those contexts could carry dietary risks rather than benefits.
Why these findings matter
This study builds on work from the Conklin Lab exploring social isolation, diversity of social ties, and health outcomes in older Canadians. The results underscore broader social determinants of health and show that older women—who often hold multiple social roles, including partner, caregiver, and community organizer—may be particularly vulnerable when those connections weaken.
Dr. Conklin suggests that public health approaches should move beyond generic advice to “get out more.” Instead, interventions and social prescribing should be informed by evidence about which activities support healthy eating and overall well-being. Tailoring recommendations by gender and by the type of social participation could make prevention efforts more effective as Canada’s population ages.
About this research
Author: Lou Corpuz-Bosshart
Source: University of British Columbia
Contact: Lou Corpuz-Bosshart – University of British Columbia
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access. “Gender, Adverse Changes in Social Engagement and Risk of Unhealthy Eating: A Prospective Cohort Study of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (2011–2021)” by Annalijn Conklin et al., published in Nutrients. DOI: 10.3390/nu17061005
Abstract (summary)
Background: Social isolation is a known determinant of health and survival. Less is known about how changes in social activities and the diversity of participation influence diet over time, and whether effects differ by gender.
Methods: The prospective analysis included adults aged 45 and older from the CLSA who reported daily fruit or vegetable intake at the first wave. Multivariable mixed logistic regression examined how changes between waves in social isolation and breadth of social participation related to later non-daily fruit and vegetable intake, separately for women and men.
Results: Women who remained socially isolated across the first two waves had significantly higher odds of non-daily vegetable intake (odds ratio 1.85; 95% CI 1.32–2.59) and non-daily fruit intake (OR 2.23; 95% CI 1.58–3.14) by the third wave, compared with women who were not isolated. Women who moved from isolated to not isolated also showed higher odds of non-daily fruit and vegetable intake. Reduced diversity of social participation was associated with 28–64% higher odds of non-daily fruit and vegetable intake in both genders. Women who reduced the diversity of their activities after initially being diverse had higher odds of non-daily fruit intake (OR 1.35; 95% CI 1.12–1.62).
Conclusions: Persistent social isolation was linked to declines in fruit and vegetable intake among women, while limited variety in social participation affected diet in both men and women. The findings point to the need for further longitudinal research on the complex relationships between social engagement and eating behavior to better inform targeted public health interventions.