Journal List > J Nutr Health > v.52(1) > 1117311

Bae, Yoon, Yun, and Asano: Dietary and health characteristics of the young-old and the old-old by food security status: analysis of data from the 6th (2013 ~ 2015) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Abstract

Purpose

This study examined dietary and health characteristics of the young-old and the old-old by food security status.

Methods

The study used data from the 6th (2013 ~ 2015) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The study subjects consisted of 3,948 subjects, of whom 2,445 were the young-old (aged 65 to 74 years) and 1,503 were the old-old (aged 75 years and over). Food security status was evaluated using an 18-item questionnaire. Energy intake, nutrient densities, and prevalence of insufficient nutrient intake were assessed. Food intake was evaluated in terms of the number of food group servings. Dietary behaviors and health status were also assessed.

Results

The prevalence of food insecurity among the young-old and the old-old was 10.0% and 11.6%, respectively. Among the young-old, the food insecure group had a significantly higher level of prevalence of insufficient intake for all the nutrients (protein, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin C, calcium, phosphorous, and iron) assessed in this study compared with the food secure group. In case of the old-old, significant differences were found only for four nutrients (protein, riboflavin, niacin, and phosphorus) in the prevalence of insufficient nutrient intake between the food secure and the food insecure groups. Kinds of food groups with significantly different numbers of servings by food security status were dissimilar between the two age groups. In both the age groups, the food insecure group consumed a significantly lower number of servings in meat·fish·eggs·legumes and fruits than the food secure group; grains and vegetables intake in the young-old and oils·sweets intake in the old-old differed in the number of servings by food security status. Among the young-old, the prevalence of chewing difficulties in the food insecure group was significantly higher than that of the food secure group, while among the old-old, no significant differences were found by food security status.

Conclusion

Dietary and health characteristics of the young-old and the old-old differed by food security status. Such differences were more apparent in the young-old than the old-old. Therefore, it is suggested that food and nutrition assistant programs should be designed with consideration of the differences.

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

Prevalence of the young-old and the old-old with insufficient nutrient intake by food security status in Korea. The data were analyzed using the complex sample module. Deficient intake refers to intake less than the Estimated Energy Requirement (EAR). **Significantly different between food security and food insecurity groups at α=0.01 by χ2-test. ***Significantly different between food security and food insecurity groups at α=0.001 by χ2-test

jnh-52-104-g001
Table 1

Prevalence of food insecurity among the young-old and the old-old in Korea

jnh-52-104-i001

The data were analyzed using the complex sample module.

1) Defined as a score of ≥ 3 according to the 18-item or 10-item household food security assessment questionnaire

2) by χ2-test

Table 2

General characteristics of the subjects by food security status

jnh-52-104-i002

The data were analyzed using the complex sample module.

1) Defined as a score of ≥ 3 according to the 18-item or 10-item household food security assessment questionnaire

2) By χ2-test or t-test

3) According to the non-discrimination method, subjects aged 80 and over were entered aged 80.

Table 3

Energy intake and nutrient densities of the young-old and the old-old by food security status in Korea

jnh-52-104-i003

The data were analyzed using the complex sample module.

Energy contribution from macronutrients was obtained by expressing energy from macronutrients as percentage of total energy intake.

1) Defined as a score of ≥ 3 according to the 18-item or 10-item household food security assessment questionnaire

2) By ANCOVA with age and sex as covariates

Table 4

Number of food group servings that young-old and the old-old consumed by food security status in Korea

jnh-52-104-i004

The data were analyzed using the complex sample module.

One serving is the amount of foods providing 300 kcal for grains, 100 kcal for meat, fish, eggs and legumes, 15 kcal for vegetables, 50 kcal for fruits, 125 kcal for milk and dairy products, and 45 kcal for oils and sweets.

Number of servings = total calories from a food group/calories in single serving

1) Defined as a score of ≥ 3 according to the 18-item or 10-item household food security assessment questionnaire

2) By ANCOVA with age and sex as covariates

Table 5

Dietary behaviors of the young-old and the old-old by food security status in Korea

jnh-52-104-i005

The data were analyzed using the complex sample module.

1) Defined as a score of ≥ 3 according to the 18-item or 10-item household food security assessment questionnaire

2) By χ2-test

Table 6

Health status of the young-old and the old-old by food security status in Korea

jnh-52-104-i006

The data were analyzed using the complex sample module.

1) Defined as a score of ≥ 3 according to the 18-item or 10-item household food security assessment questionnaire

2) By χ2-test

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TOOLS
ORCID iDs

Ajung Bae
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3950-0913

Jihyun Yoon
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9479-9305

Soh-Yoon Yun
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1937-6433

Kana Asano
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7097-5888

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