Living arrangements and dietary patterns of older adults in the United States.

Living arrangements and dietary patterns were examined for 3,477 adults aged 65 to 74 from the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1971 to 1974 (NHANES I). Several indicators of dietary variety, diet composition, and energy and nutrient intake from both the 24-hour recall, and the dietary frequency questionnaires were analyzed. Dietary patterns of older men were associated more strongly with type of living arrangement and income compared with older women. Men living with a spouse consistently had more favorable dietary patterns than either those living alone or those living with someone other than a spouse. Low income men who were not living with a spouse were at highest risk of poor dietary intake. Income was associated more consistently with the dietary indicators than type of living arrangement for women. Income, however, was still a less consistent influence on dietary patterns of older women compared to older men.