Nutritional and health consequences are associated with food insecurity among US elderly persons

The purpose of this study was to examine the consequences associated with f ood insecurity for the nutritional and health status of the elderly in the United States. The data analyzed were from the Third National Health and Nu trition Examination Survey (1988-1994) and the Nutrition Survey of the Elde rly in New York State (1994). Multiple logistic and linear regression analy ses were used to assess the extent to which food-insecure elderly were like ly to have lower nutrient intake, skinfold thickness, self-reported health status and higher nutritional risk. Regardless of food insecurity status, o lder people consumed less than the recommended dietary allowance for eight nutrients. Food-insecure elderly persons had significantly lower intakes of energy, protein, carbohydrate, saturated fat, niacin, riboflavin, vitamins B-6 and B-12, magnesium, iron and zinc, as well as lower skinfold thicknes s. In addition, food-insecure elderly persons were 2.33 (95% confidence int erval: 1.73-3.14) times more likely to report fair/poor health status and h ad higher nutritional risk. These results indicate that food-insecure elder ly persons have poorer dietary intake, nutritional status and health status than do food-secure elderly persons. it is necessary to ensure the nutriti onal well-being of all elderly persons who are at nutritional and health ri sk, including those who are food insecure and have even poorer nutritional and health status than those who are food secure.