Activity limitation and food intake in community-living seniors

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which functional a bility was associated with dietary intake in community-living seniors with some activity limitation. In this cross-sectional survey, 145 seniors were recruited from 15 recreation, day programs or seniors' apartment complexes. Dietary intake was assessed with a food frequency questionnaire and evalua ted for adequacy with a Diet Score. An Activity Score was derived from 15 q uestions on basic and instrumental activities of daily living. Demographic, health, psychosocial, functional and behavioural factors that could influe nce diet intake were measured with standardized, validated scales. Diet Sco re was significantly and positively associated with income, hearing, educat ion, satisfaction with use of time, number of medications and age. Activity Score, the belief that health affects activity level, shopping behaviour a nd smoking were negatively and significantly associated with Diet Score. Ma ny factors influence the dietary intake of seniors, including extent of fun ctional limitations. This analysis suggests that the most dependent seniors living in the community consume better diets than those seniors with few l imitations; this finding is probably a result of informal and formal suppor t services for these functionally dependent seniors.