The Effect of Nutrition Education Program in Physical Health, Nutritional Status and Health-Related Quality of Life of the Elderly in Seoul

ABSTRACT

This study was performed to investigate the effects of nutrition education program in physical health, nutritional status and health-related quality of life (HRQoL )of the Elderly in Seoul. Nutrition education program was consisted of healthy eating, prevention and diet therapy of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis. Seventy eight free-living elderly people (13 male, 65 female ), aged > or =60 years participated in this program. Before and after nutri-tion education program, we surveyed the general characteristics, physical health, general health, nutrition status, and health-related quality of life to the subjects. All the subjects were divided into program completers (N =47 )and non-completers (N =31 ). All the data were analyzed by student t-test, chi-square test, paired t-test, and marginal homo-geneity test using SPSS 9.0 version at p <0.05. After nutrition education program, physical activity and ADL maintained, however IADL improved in program noncompleters. In eating habits, 'slow eating' significantly improved in program completers in program completers. Nutrition knowledge and recognition scores were significantly increased in both groups, and accuracy score was significantly increased in program completers. However, nutrient-intakes of %RDA were not significantly changed in both groups, and it seemed to be more influenced by other factors such as 'family income' or 'family type' than by the nutrition education program. In HRQoL, social functioning was improved after nutrition education program in both groups (p <0.05 ). The nutrition education program has more effects on the pro-gram completers than on the noncompleters, and it is also needed social supports for the Elderly to fulfill their nutrient requirements.