Food group consumption and self-rated diets of elderly community-dwelling canadian men. The manitoba followup study.
BACKGROUND
Healthy eating perceptions and food group consumption practices of elderly men are largely unexplored. Understanding eating practices of elderly men and how this relates to their quality of life is important for the implementation of practical health promotion strategies.


OBJECTIVE
Examine the frequency of food items consumed (daily, most days, or rarely), and the association of self-rated diet and food group consumption of elderly community-dwelling Canadian men.


METHODS
Self-reported nutrition data, obtained via mailed questionnaires in spring 2000, from 1,211 Canadian male respondents (mean age 82 years) participating in the Manitoba Follow-up Study were analyzed.


RESULTS
Respondents consumed vegetables/fruit (64%) and grain products (58%) daily, and meat/alternatives (81%) most days. Milk products were equally consumed daily (47%) or most days (47%). Using multiple logistic regression models, controlling for demographic variables, a positive relationship was found between the increasing consumption of vegetables/fruit and grain products and healthier self-rated diets. Daily consumption of vegetables/fruit or grain products significantly predicted healthier self-rated diets compared to men consuming those food categories most days, OR=2.42 (95%CI=1.88, 3.11) and OR=2.18 (95%CI=1.70, 2.79), respectively. Those consuming meat/alternatives or milk products "daily" or "rarely" rated their diets as healthier than those consuming these items "most days".


CONCLUSIONS
Daily consumption of fruits, vegetables, and grain products is viewed as important for overall health and is positively associated with healthier self-rated diets among elderly Canadian men.
Lengyel
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Department of Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, 405 Human Ecology Building, Winnipeg, Canada MB R3T 2N2. lengyel@cc.umanitoba.ca
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Bayomi
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D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D002523:Edible Grain; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005638:Fruit; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008350:Manitoba; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables