Dietary Behaviors of Elderly People Residing in Central Iran: A Preliminary Report of Yazd Health Study

Journal Title: Elderly Health Journal - Year 2016, Vol 2, Issue 1

Abstract

Introduction: Food habits play important roles in maintaining physical and mental health and preventing chronic illnesses in the elderly. The aim of the present study was to investigate dietary behaviors of elderly people residing in Yazd city which is located in central Iran. Methods: The present analysis was conducted on 1684 participants entered to Yazd Health Study aged over 60 years during 2014-2015. Demographic characteristics, health status, physical activity, economic status, education and dietary behaviors were collected by using a validated questionnaire. Results: Our analysis revealed that only 1.2% of the elderly consumed more than two servings of dairy per day. Furthermore only 3 and 9.8 percent of elders consumed more than three servings/day of vegetables and fruits, respectively. The study also showed that 22.9% ate more than five servings of sugar per day, 22.5% took more than four units of legumes weekly, 56.1% ate two to three servings of poultry per week, 77% reported eating fast foods for at least once a week, 47.8% consumed canned foods less than once a week of and 86.3% reported taking breakfast for at least five times a week. For cooking 18.9% of elderly still use hydrogenated vegetable oils, 52.8% of the elderly did not separate visible fats from red meat before cooking, 65.8% chose high-fat dairy and 24% of older people reported using frying and grilling as their primary cooking method. Our findings also suggest that dietary behavior is different between elder men and women. Conclusion: Unhealthy dietary habits, including low vegetables, fruits and dairy products intake, are highly prevalent among elderly people residing in Yazd. Community based interventions targeting this age group, in order to improve their dietary intake, are highly recommended.

Authors and Affiliations

Davood Bahrami, Masoud Mirzaei, Amin Salehi-Abargouei

Keywords

Related Articles

Editor's Welcome

The increasing number of aging people around the world, especially in developing countries, and its economic, social, and health consequences demonstrate the necessity of studies focusing on the elderly. The results of t...

Social Well-being within Aged Citizens in Ahwaz City, Iran

Introduction: Declining social participation and reduced engagement in communal activities among Khuzistani citizens are specifically more evident among the elderly than other age groups. The aim of this study was to inv...

Elderly Patients’ Satisfaction with Provided Services in Yazd Shahid Sadoughi Hospital

Introduction: Most of the older adults have to be hospitalized and patients’ satisfaction from the provided services is one of the key performance indicators in healthcare centers. Feeling satisfied with the treatment pr...

Aging Ergonomics: A Field with Inadequate Notice

World population aging is a phenomenon we are confronting with, more than past. This fact has different implications for today’s societies. One of these aspects is workforce (1). Some factors have resulted in more tenden...

The Effect of Resistance Training on Levels of Interlukine-6 and High-Sensitivity C - reactive protein in Older-Aged Women

Introduction: Aging is associated with elevated levels of some proinflammatory factors and exercise is a non-invasive intervention to improve immune function among older adults .The aim of the study was to compare resist...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP211954
  • DOI -
  • Views 85
  • Downloads 0

How To Cite

Davood Bahrami, Masoud Mirzaei, Amin Salehi-Abargouei (2016). Dietary Behaviors of Elderly People Residing in Central Iran: A Preliminary Report of Yazd Health Study. Elderly Health Journal, 2(1), 6-13. https://europub.co.uk./articles/-A-211954