Ana Pilar Martínez Valero1, Elisa Amo-Saus2, Isabel Pardo-García3, Francisco Escribano-Sotos3. 1. Centro de Estudios Sociosanitarios, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Cuenca, España; Servicios de Salud de Castilla-La Mancha (SESCAM), Albacete, España. 2. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Albacete, España. Electronic address: Elisa.amo@uclm.es. 3. Centro de Estudios Sociosanitarios, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Cuenca, España; Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), Albacete, España.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The consumption of certain foods and healthy eating habits are related to preventing and suffering from a number of chronic diseases. These foods tend to be included in food pyramids, such as that proposed by the Spanish Society for Community Nutrition. One method of analysing diet quality is the use of indices that assess the frequency of consumption of different food groups. AIM: To analyse diet quality in a Spanish population of persons aged over 65years using the Healthy Eating Index and to determine how sociodemographic factors affect scores on the index. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted on the diet followed at home by Spanish population aged over 65years, using the Healthy Eating Index and taking information from the 2014 European Health Interview Survey in Spain. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the socioeconomic factors associated with diet quality. RESULTS: Of the study population, 89.6% need to make changes in their diet, while only 8.2% follow a healthy diet. Suffering from chronic diseases, overweight and occasional physical exercise were associated with higher scores on the Healthy Eating Index. CONCLUSION: Most of the population aged 65years or over need to make changes in their dietary patterns. Those with potential health risks are more careful about their diet. These findings confirm the need to promote guidelines for healthy eating in the non-clinical population.
INTRODUCTION: The consumption of certain foods and healthy eating habits are related to preventing and suffering from a number of chronic diseases. These foods tend to be included in food pyramids, such as that proposed by the Spanish Society for Community Nutrition. One method of analysing diet quality is the use of indices that assess the frequency of consumption of different food groups. AIM: To analyse diet quality in a Spanish population of persons aged over 65years using the Healthy Eating Index and to determine how sociodemographic factors affect scores on the index. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted on the diet followed at home by Spanish population aged over 65years, using the Healthy Eating Index and taking information from the 2014 European Health Interview Survey in Spain. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the socioeconomic factors associated with diet quality. RESULTS: Of the study population, 89.6% need to make changes in their diet, while only 8.2% follow a healthy diet. Suffering from chronic diseases, overweight and occasional physical exercise were associated with higher scores on the Healthy Eating Index. CONCLUSION: Most of the population aged 65years or over need to make changes in their dietary patterns. Those with potential health risks are more careful about their diet. These findings confirm the need to promote guidelines for healthy eating in the non-clinical population.
Authors: Miriam Mohatar-Barba; María López-Olivares; Elisabet Fernández-Gómez; Trinidad Luque-Vara; Marta Linares-Manrique; Carmen Enrique-Mirón Journal: Foods Date: 2022-04-14