Diet and Health Status of Elderly Women According to the Family Type.
10.5720/kjcn.2016.21.3.256
- Author:
Mi Kyeong CHOI
1
;
Myung Hwa KANG
;
Mi Hyun KIM
Author Information
1. Division of Food Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
diet;
health;
elderly women;
living alone;
family type
- MeSH:
Aged*;
Coffee;
Diet*;
Drinking;
Eating;
Eggs;
Female;
Food Habits;
Fractures, Bone;
Fruit;
Humans;
Meals;
Meat;
Motor Activity;
Nuclear Family;
Ovum;
Spouses;
Vegetables
- From:Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
2016;21(3):256-264
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the diet and health status of elderly women according to the family type. METHODS: A total of 307 elderly women participated in this study were divided into one of three groups according to their family type: residing with spouse (RSP; n=88), residing with son or daughter (RSD; n=119), and residing alone (RAL; n=100). Chi-square test was used to assess dietary habits and health status of the subjects by the family types. RESULTS: Results demonstrated significant associations between eating regular meals, person preparing meals, coffee intake, and bone fracture experience and family type. Among the three groups, the RSP and RAL groups had a higher percentage for preparing meals by themselves (p<0.001) than the RSD group. The RAL group had a lower percentage for eating regular meals (p<0.01) but a higher percentage for bone fracture experience (p<0.05) than the other groups. There were no significant differences in monthly allowance, self-estimated health status, physical activity, exercise, drinking, and dietary habits such as frequency of consumption of dairy, beans, eggs, fish, meat, fruits, and vegetables among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that elderly women residing alone without a son, daughter, or spouse had more diet-related and health problems such as irregular meals and high bone fracture experience. These findings suggested that elderly women residing alone need more attention and support.
