Relating food choice determinants with sociodemographic variables, health status and nutritional risk among community living older adults.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The aging process has physiological, psychological and social implications that interfere with food choice. This work aims to identify factors influencing food choice among community-living older adults and their relationship with social characteristics, health status and nutritional risk. METHODS: Four hundred fifty-nine older adults (≥65 years old) living in Vila Nova de Gaia (Portugal) were interviewed by trained interviewers in a face-to-face situation. RESULTS: Participants had a mean age of 73 years (SD = 6). The majority were women (64.0%), married (67.8%) and lived in their own home (80.2%). Several associations were found between factors that influence food choice and sex, problems with sense organs and pathologies/problems. Older adults at malnourished or at risk of malnutrition or with high cardiovascular risk attribute less importance to the food's content in additives, colorants and preservatives. We also found a positive association between weight status and the importance attributed to food availability and a negative association between weight status and the ease of chewing were found. CONCLUSION: Knowledge on the factors influencing food choice among older adults may provide essential information for more effective clinical and community interventions, and for the development of new products to facilitate healthy choices among community-living older adults.

Information Sources on Healthy Eating Among Community Living Older Adults.

Information about nutrition and health are important to empower older adults on what their food choice is concerned. The present research aims to study the perceived need and preferences regarding sources of information about healthy eating among older adults and to relate them with sociodemographic characteristics. A sample of 602 older adults (≥65 years old) living in the community (Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal) was assessed by trained nutritionists using a structured questionnaire developed within the Pronutrisenior project. Most participants (87.5%) are concerned about healthy eating, and 69.3% would like to receive more information about the subject, mainly as audiovisual material (49.8%). Women prefer to receive information through practical cooking sessions and audiovisual material. Highly educated individuals prefer leaflets with text as well as audiovisual material, while more independent individuals prefer a wide range of media, such as booklets with pictures, informational posters, and food education and practical cooking sessions. Those with an adequate social support network prefer booklets with text. Age was not related to these preferences. These results can inform stakeholders about the most effective means of transmitting information on food and nutrition to older adults and are therefore useful in tailoring community and clinical interventions.