Old and alone: barriers to healthy eating in older men living on their own

doi:10.1016/j.appet.2004.06.002

Appetite

Volume 43, Issue 3, December 2004, Pages 269-276

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2004.06.002 Get rights and content

Abstract

Ageing is associated with reduced energy intake and loss of appetite. Older men tend to have poorer dietary intakes including consumption of fewer fruits and vegetables in comparison to older women. Living and eating alone further diminishes food consumption and dietary quality. The aim of the present study was to explore food choice and energy intake in older men living alone using both quantitative and qualitative methods. 39 older men were interviewed and completed questionnaires on health, food choice, dietary patterns and appetite. Few men managed to consume recommended levels of energy, essential trace elements or vitamins A and D. Age and BMI failed to predict patterns of intake, but men with good cooking skills reported better physical health and higher intake of vegetables. However, cooking skills were negatively correlated with energy intake. Men who managed to consume at least 4 portions of fruits and vegetables each day had significantly higher vitamin C levels, a greater percentage of energy as protein and generally more adequate diets. Interviews revealed that poor cooking skills and low motivation to change eating habits may constitute barriers to improving energy intake, healthy eating and appetite in older men (193).

Section snippets

Participants

Older men were recruited from the Merseyside area, a largely urban region of the north west of England. The aims of the project were communicated to a wide range of formal and informal groups of older people. Contact was made with welfare organisations, social services and sheltered housing schemes, who then circulated details of the study within their groups. Flyers were posted in libraries, drop-in centres and other public spaces known to be used by older people. An ‘expression of interest’

Results

In order to investigate possible barriers to healthy eating the data was examined under four themes investigating the following areas: health and well-being, energy and nutrient intakes, cooking skills, and fruit and vegetable intake. The questionnaires provided numerical data on health and well-being, energy and nutrient intakes, and fruit and vegetable intake, whilst cooking skills were extracted from the interview data. The interviews were also used to provide clarification relating to these

Discussion

The present study confirms the relatively low energy intakes observed in older adults and in particular, low intakes of fruits and vegetables, with a very small proportion achieving 5-a-day. Reduced energy intake may be attributable to lower energy requirements as a normal response to healthy ageing, and to changes in life circumstances such as living alone. Older men living alone have less adequate diets, less dietary variety and less frequent intakes of fruits and vegetables than older women

Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the Institute of Human Ageing, University of Liverpool. We would like to acknowledge the assistance of Dr Brian Merry, Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, in the initial stages of designing this study.

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Research ReportOld and alone: barriers to healthy eating in older men living on their own

Abstract

Section snippets

Participants

Results

Discussion

Acknowledgements

Appetite

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Appetite

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Longitudinal changes in mental and physical health among recently widowed men

Mortality

“I think a woman can take it”: widowed men's views and experiences of gender differences in bereavement

Ageing International

Narratives of death: a qualitative study of widowhood in later life

Ageing and Society

The state of cooking in England: the relationship of cooking skills to food choice

British Food Journal

Dietary reference values for food and nutrients for the United Kingdom

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

Journal of Gerontology

Family and friends produce greater social facilitation of food intake than other companions

Physiol. Behav

Research Report
Old and alone: barriers to healthy eating in older men living on their own