Evaluation of Eating Habit and Dietary Intake by Family Type of Seniors Utilizing Social Welfare Center in Seoul

ABSTRACT

The objective of our study was to evaluate the dietary intakes and eating habit for seniors utilizing ten different social welfare centers in Seoul, Korea. The total number of subjects of this study was 543 (male 199, female 344) of 60 years of age or older. The survey was performed through personal interview questionnaires from May 3rd to June 1st 2006. After assigning subjects to four categories based on family type, single, couple, joint family, and other, these categories were compared with the estimated total nutrient intakes and eating habit. Validity was assessed by comparison with 24-hour dietary recalls and dietary variety score (DVS). The results showed that senior in single family type was far lower than that of couple family type in terms of frequency of meal per day and intake of snacks. Dietary variety score represented that a single female with social security beneficiary showed the lowest variety score compared with other family type. The lunch meal provided by social welfare center turned out to be the most nutritious diet and had significant proportion of daily intakes in essential nutrients such as protein, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C. Taken together, the family type was a significant factor and the accompaniment is another effector on dietary pattern in the elderly. We strongly suggest that the current lunch program in welfare center should be expanded to breakfast meal, and furthermore the small commodity program is also needed to provide the elderly with meal for social communication.