title: Socio-economic status, place of residence and dietary habits among the elderly: the Mediterranean islands study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether the socio-economic status (SES) of elderly eastern Mediterranean islanders is associated with their dietary habits, particularly with adherence to the traditional Mediterranean diet.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was measured by the MedDietScore (range: 0-55), whereas SES was estimated using education and financial status.
  
  
  METHODS
  During 2005-2007, 300 men and women from Cyprus, 100 from Samothraki, 142 from Mitilini, 114 from Kefalonia, 131 from Crete, 150 from Lemnos, 150 from Corfu and 103 from Zakynthos (aged 65-100 years), free of known chronic diseases, participated in the survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that belonging to the highest SES was associated with a higher MedDietScore (P < 0.01), after adjusting for potential sociodemographic, lifestyle, dietary and clinical confounders. A significant positive association was also found between MedDietScore and years of school (P = 0.004), as well as financial status (P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older Greek people of higher SES seem to follow a relatively healthier diet. Both education and income seem to play a role in this issue. Thus, public health policy makers should focus on people with low SES in order to improve their quality of diet and, consequently, their health status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition Science - Dietetics, Harokopio University, 46 Paleon Polemiston St., Glyfada, 166 74, Attica, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Alexia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Katsarou
authors.forename: Stefanos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tyrovolas
authors.forename: Theodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Psaltopoulou
authors.forename: Akis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zeimbekis
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsakountakis
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bountziouka
authors.forename: Efthimios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gotsis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Metallinos
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Polychronopoulos
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lionis
authors.forename: Demosthenes
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Panagiotakos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D004522:Educational Status; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008521:Mediterranean Islands; D011203:Poverty; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012923:Social Class