Food and nutrient intake and diet quality among older Americans.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

A suboptimal diet and nutritional deficiencies can have important influences on health with significant impact among older adults. This study aims to assess the presence of suboptimal dietary intake among older Americans and identify risk and protective factors influencing diet quality.

Design

Cross-sectional secondary analysis.

Setting

USA.

Participants

A nationally representative sample of 5614 community-dwelling older adults over age 54 in the Health and Retirement Study - Health Care and Nutrition Survey.

Results

Overall, only 10·7 % of respondents had a good quality diet (Healthy Eating Index score 81 and above); the majority had diets considered poor or needing improvement. Less than 50 % of respondents met dietary guidelines and nutritio

SUBMITTER: Choi YJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8094430 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature