Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, Vol 54, Issue 6 M325-M328, Copyright © 1999 by The Gerontological Society of America
Description of a mixed ethnic, elderly population. II. Food group behavior and related nonfood characteristics
JW Prothro and CA Rosenbloom
Department of Nutrition, Georgia State University, Atlanta 30311, USA.
BACKGROUND: Elderly persons 60-103 years of age, who were participants in a
Title III-C Nutrition Program, provided information regarding weekly
frequencies of food group consumption, weekend meals and snack patterns,
and several nonfood items that may affect food intakes. METHODS:
Nonrandomized volunteers were interviewed in senior centers or in their
homes. Chi-square, t test, and Pearson's product moment correlations were
used to assess differences in the population sample with regard to six
independent variables: ethnicity, gender, type meal (congregate or home
delivered), age, proportion of noon meal usually eaten, and socialization
factor (lived alone or with others). RESULTS: White subjects ate more
fruits, dairy products, and weekend snacks than black subjects. White
elders also consumed more caffeine, had larger incomes, and more often had
sufficient money to buy food. Black subjects ate more pasta and desserts,
and in sickness more often had help available. Men consumed more meats,
dairy products, eggs, and starchy foods than women. There were no gender
differences in income, but men ate more weekend meals in restaurants, spent
more money weekly for food, more often were able to shop for food and leave
home without assistance, and reported greater pleasure associated with
eating. Home delivery clients ate more desserts and Sunday snacks and more
frequently ate breakfast on the weekend than congregate clients. Congregate
clients had more money to buy food, were better able to shop for and
prepare food, and more frequently had help available in sickness. Young-old
(<75 yr) and old-old (> r =75 yr) clients showed no difference in
consumption of any of the food groups. Persons who usually ate all or most
of the noon meal more frequently experienced pleasurability in eating,
reported less anorexia, and had larger intakes of the vegetable and pasta
groups. Persons living with others ate more meats, pasta, and desserts,
spent more weekly for food, and ate more weekend meals in restaurants.
CONCLUSION: The need for focus of the elderly nutrition program is greater
in home delivery than congregate clients. The average home delivery client
is older, has more chronic health problems and less physical prowess, less
income, less frequently has help available in sickness, and has greater
need for services other than the noon meal.
