Changes in food patterns and health in Europeans in their 8th decade
Knowledge of specific food patterns of elderly people is important for relating diet to nutritional status and disease and for the identification of groups at risk of under- or over-consumption of specific nutrients. The standardised methodology employed in the SENECA surveys (Survey in Europe on Nutrition and the Elderly a Concerted Action) provided a unique opportunity to study cross-cultural differences in nutritional issues and lifestyle factors affecting health and performance of elderly people in Europe. This thesis explores food patterns in elderly Europeans and their impact on health. For the evaluation of the nutrient quality and the healthfulness of food patterns in elderly Europeans two approaches were applied: The Nutrient Adequacy Ratio, and a diet score, based on eight dietary components with a likely protective function for a number of chronic diseases. For a better insight in food patterns in addition to a conventional description, cluster analysis was employed.Food intake data from 1221 dietary histories recoded by the Eurocode system was used to identify specific food patterns within each of the SENECA towns. On the pooled level food patterns across centres emerged. Food patterns varied between and within European settings and the two types of variation appeared to be of the same magnitude.Food patterns were stable with age in 245 women from the Danish, Dutch, Swiss and Spanish SENECA towns. Minor changes attributable to period were, however, found. Also, foods contributing to the intake of specific nutrients were found to vary between SENECA towns. In addition to food choice, food handling affected the actual nutrient intake, and should, therefore, be considered in the nutritional evaluation of elderly people.Weight loss showed to be an indicator of poor health in Danish (n = 115) and Dutch (n = 12 1) elderly people, but energy intake as an intermediary factor could not be proven in this study. Nevertheless, a further analysis of the Danish data showed that, both quantity and quality of food intake matter in the prevention of disability in 115 elderly Danes.In conclusion, this thesis underlines the importance of food patterns of elderly people today for their ability to perform activities of daily living tomorrow. Inadequate nutrient intake appeared to result from a combination of low energy intake and unfavourable food patterns. Vulnerable groups of elderly people may gain from stimulation of physical activity and recommendations on nutritious foods.
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Doctoral thesis biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Landbouwuniversiteit Wageningen
|
| Subjects: | consumption patterns, elderly, europe, food hygiene, health, human population, nutritional state, old age, bevolking, consumptiepatronen, europa, gezondheid, ouderdom, ouderen, voedingstoestand, voedselhygiëne, |
| Online Access: | https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/changes-in-food-patterns-and-health-in-europeans-in-their-8th-dec |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|