Health-related factors influencing food choices of active home-living older adults in Norway.

Abstract

Aims: As the proportion of elderly increases rapidly in all industrialised countries, more knowledge is needed on how to enable this group to stay active and live home longer in older years. In this study, importance of health-related aspects and eating contexts for daily food related behaviour is addressed.

Methods: A quantitative web survey (N=782, 65-89 years) and an exploratory qualitative study (N=15, 67-84 years) were conducted among active home-living Norwegian older adults.

Results: The study showed that health considerations such as changes in consumption of foods and ingredients influence eating behaviour for Norwegian older adults. Eating context was important for their daily routines and eating behaviour.

Conclusion: This study focused on exploring how health aspects and daily routines influence eating behaviour of active home-living older adults. The results implicate that using the meal context as a venue for improving eating behaviour as well as providing information may be a way towards upholding health among less healthy and active older adults.