The Changes of Dish Consumption Frequencies, Dietary Attitudes and Health-Nutrition Risk for Single Living Female Elderly on Food-Aid Program

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to estimate the effect of the home based food supplying program in single living female elderly on the basis of depression, Health and Nutrition Risk Index, dietary attitude and dish consumption frequencies. The Food Supplying Program was carried out for 8 months for 27 single living female elderly from lower income status in Bucheon city. Main supplied foods were consisted with soymilk, vegetables, fruits and fish. The effect of the food supplying program were analyzed for 22 elderly who completed the program (group supplied with food : GSF) compared to the group not supplied with food (GNSF). The results of this study were as follows: Degree of depression estimated with depression score and Health-Nutrition Risk Index were decreased and the scores of dietary attitude and behaviors were increased for GSF after 8 months. However these improvements were not shown in the GNSF. GSF showed significantly increased consumption frequencies in soybean milk, tangerine, stir fried anchovy and yogurt, where as GNSF was observed with the decreasing trend in most of the dishes. In conclusion, home based food supplying program for single living female elderly not only increased the consumption frequencies of some dishes but also improved depression rate, Health and Nutrition Risk Index and dietary behavior concomitantly.