A Study on Dietary Pattern and Nutritional Status of the Long-Lived Elderly People by Food Habit Index in Ganghwa-gun Area

강화도 장수 노인의 식습관 점수별 식생활태도 및 영양상태 조사

This study was carried out to assess the food habit index of the long-lived elderly who were aged over 85 years living in Ganghwa-gun. A survey was conducted during December 2003. Dietary nutrient intake data was obtained through the 24-hr recall method. The subjects were 96 (32 males, 64 females) aged people and divided into three groups based on food habit index scores. Such as group A: good $16\∼20$, group B: fair $11\∼15$, and group C: poor $5\∼10$. The three groups of the subjects were 90.7 years of age and $21.3\;kg/m^{2}$ of BMI on average. Healthy eating index scores of the subjects were $9.4\%$ in group A, $54.2\%$ in group B and $36.5\%$ in group C. Their level of education were lower and their levels of living standards tended to have been middle and lower of the middle class. The percentage of living together with their families or spouses in all groups were over $60.0\%$ and the rates of the subjects who have responsibility for their meal preparations were also very high in all groups. Most subjects tended not to drink nor smoke, and spend $8\~10$ hours for their sleep. The percent of number of diseases in group A was lower than in groups B and C. Their dietary habits such as taking three meals a day regularly have shown that they have good eating habit in general. There was a positive correlation between the eating behaviors and nutrient intakes. The protein, animal protein, fat, PUFA, vitamin E, vitamin $B_{2}$, niacin, P and K intaks in group A were significantly higher than that of the groups B and C. For group A of good food habits aged had no sufficient intake of Ca and vitamin A than the Korean RDA and long-lived elderly of group C in Ganghwa areas had worse nutrients intakes, especially Ca, vitamin A, vitamin $B_{2}$ and vitamin E. According to this research having a good eating habits could be considered as increasing of the health and nutritional status. (Korean J Community Nutrition 10(6) $892\∼904$, 2005)