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Activity Limitation and Food Intake in Community-Living Seniors*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Heather H. Keller ,
Truls Ostbye ,
Elizabeth Bright-See  and
M. Karen Campbell
Heather H. Keller
Affiliation:
University of Guelph
Truls Ostbye
Affiliation:
The University of Western Ontario
Elizabeth Bright-See
Affiliation:
The University of Western Ontario
M. Karen Campbell
Affiliation:
The University of Western Ontario
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which functional ability 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 evaluated for adequacy with a Diet Score. An Activity Score was derived from 15 questions on basic and instrumental activities of daily living. Demographic, health, psychosocial, functional and behavioural factors that could influence diet intake were measured with standardized, validated scales. Diet Score was significantly and positively associated with income, hearing, education, satisfaction with use of time, number of medications and age. Activity Score, the belief that health affects activity level, shopping behaviour and smoking were negatively and significantly associated with Diet Score. Many factors influence the dietary intake of seniors, including extent of functional limitations. This analysis suggests that the most dependent seniors living in the community consume better diets than those seniors with few limitations; this finding is probably a result of informal and formal support services for these functionally dependent seniors.

Résumé

Cette étude visait à déterminer dans quelle mesure la capacité fonctionnelle est liée à l'ingestion alimentaire chez les aîné(e)s vivant dans la communauté et dont les activités sont restreintes. L'étude transversale a permis d'observer 145 aînés recrutés dans 15 programmes récréatifs, centres de jour ou ensembles d'habitations. On a évalué l'ingestion alimentaire au moyen d'un questionnaire sur la fréquence de l'alimentation “(Diet Score)” et on en a mesuré la précision par un système de pointage. On a établi le pointage des activités (“Activity Score”) au moyen de 15 questions sur les activités de base et instrumentales de la vie quotidienne. On a mesuré au moyen d'échelles standardisées et validées, les facteurs démographiques, psychosociaux, fonctionnels ainsi que les facteurs de santé et de comportement pouvant influer sur l'ingestion alimentaire. Le pointage de l'alimentation est dans une large mesure, et de façon positive, relié au revenu, à l'ouïe, à l'éducation, à la satisfaction sur l'utilisation de son temps, à la quantité de médicaments consommée et à l'âge. Le pointage de l'activité, la croyance que la santé influe sur le degré d'activité, les habitudes de magasinage et la consommation du tabac se relient fortement, et de façon négative au pointage de l'alimentation. L'analyse laisse entendre que les aînés les plus dépendants qui vivent dans la communauté ont une meilleure alimentation que les aînés dont les activités sont moins limitées. Il est possible que la cause en soit attribuable aux supports formel et informel dont les aînés dépendants bénéficient.

Keywords

Dietary IntakeSeniorsActivity Limitations.Ingestion alimentaireAînésRestriction des activités.
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 18 , Issue 1 , printemps/Spring 1999 , pp. 47 - 63
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1999

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