Food Environmental Factors Related to Dietary Intake according to Residential Areas in Older Adults Residing in Rural Areas

Abstract

BackgroundThere has been few studies to investigate associations between dietary intake and food environmental factors among older adults in rural areas in Korea.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between dietary intake and food environmental factors among older adults according to residential areas.MethodsA face‐to‐face interview for 307 older adults residing in three different areas of Gyeonggi‐do province was performed from November to December in 2013: land area (Yangpyeong‐gun, n=151), combined area of mountain and land area (Hongcheon‐gun, n=102), and remote mountain area (Hwachon‐myeon and Nae‐myeon away from Hongcheon‐gun, n=54). Dietary intake was examined by food frequency questionnaire. Food environments were assessed by factors related to food accessibility.ResultsMean age of subjects was 76.8±6.1 years old. Older adults without farm or home garden were less likely to intake rice and fruit than those with farm or home garden, and the results were shown in land area and combined area (OR 7.72 (95 CI: 2.85–20.92) for rice in land area; OR 2.26 (95 CI: 1.26–4.06) for rice in combined area; OR 3.38 (95 CI: 1.23–9.28) for fruits in land area; OR 1.99 (95 CI: 1.10–3.59) for fruits in combined area). Inadequate intakes of fishes and vegetables were related to food stores far from their home (OR 1.86 (95 CI: 1.01–3.41) for fishes in combined area; OR 1.91 (95 CI: 1.15–3.16) for vegetable in combined area; OR 2.90 (95 CI: 1.39–6.05) for vegetable in remote mountain area). Older adults with inconvenience for bus transport and no assistance from their family assistance had higher risk of inadequate intake of eggs (OR 3.43 (95 CI: 1.39–9.01) for inconvenience for bus transport in remote mountain area; OR 4.42 (95 CI: 1.48–13.26) for no assistance from their family assistance in remote mountain area; OR 3.05 (95 CI: 1.41–6.59) for no assistance from their family assistance in combined area).ConclusionFood environment factors were associated with adequate dietary intake. Therefore, interventions targeting management of food environmental conditions related to nutrient intakes should be considered, especially in rural areas.Support or Funding InformationThis study was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (no.NRF‐2016R1A2B4013798) and grant from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs..