[Secular trends in food intakes among the elderly aged 60 and older in nine provinces in China from 1991 to 2015]

Abstract

Objective: To analysis the status and trend of food intake of elderly aged 60 and older years old in nine provinces of China.

Methods: The data of China Health and Nutrition Survey from 1991 to 2015 were used, which elderly ≥60 years old were selected as the subjects. The dietary survey used compared. The 3-consecutive day-24-hour dietary recall was used to collect information on food intake, the condiment intake was collected by weighting and bookkeeping method.

Results: The intakes of cereals and tubers and vegetables among the elderly were 363.3 g/d and 249.1 g/d, respectively in 2015, decreased by 65.4 g/d and 17.6 g/d as compared with those in 1991. The intakes of meat, egg, and edible oil were 56.7 g/d, 19.2 g/d and 27.5 g/d respectively and increased by 7.5 g/d, 19.2 g/d and 2.5 g/d as compared to those with 1991. The intakes of eggs, soybeans and nuts were higher among the elderly people having high income or living in urban areas. In 2015, the proportion of elderly in nine provinces of China whose intake of vegetables, fruits, soybeans, milk and dairy products was lower than the recommended amount was relatively high. The proportion of meat higher than the recommended value is higher than that of aquatic products and eggs. Oil, salt and other limited flavoring intake of less than and above the limit was nearly 50 percent of the population.

Conclusion: There are three problems in the diet of the elderly in nine provinces in China: the structure of diet is not rational; low intake of the food rich in high quality protein and low fat such as aquatic products, eggs, dairy products and so on; the problem of excessive oil and salt in food.

Keywords: aged; diet surveys; food.