Health-seeking Behavior, Product Characteristics, and Social Factors Affect Dairy Product Consumption By Elders.

Abstract

A national telephone survey of 495 adults aged in their 60s (n=155), 70s (n=187) and 80+ (n = 151) was conducted to assess behaviors and attitudes concerning dairy product intake. Participants were asked how frequently they consumed milk, yogurt, frozen yogurt, ice cream, cottage cheese, and cheese. Total dairy product intake was the sum of the frequencies of all dairy products. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the effect of age, gender, race, income, money spent on food, education, eating with others, overall health, health seeking behavior, nutrition knowledge about dairy products, and product characteristics on dairy product intake. Ratings of product taste, healthfulness and/or food value were strong predictors of consumption of all dairy products. The health seeking behavior “try to get enough calcium” was positively related to milk and yogurt intakes, while trying to reduce cholesterol intake was negatively related to consumption of whole milk, ice cream, and cheese. Lactose intolerance was negatively related to intakes of milk and ice cream, while eating with others was positively associated with intake of ice cream, cottage cheese and cheese. Total dairy product intake was positively associated with the health seeking behavior “trying to get enough calcium” (P<0.01), milk intake in adolescence (P<0.0001), eating with others (P<0.01), and nutrition knowledge (P<0.01), but negatively associated with lactose intolerance (P<0.0001). These results suggest that to enhance dairy product consumption by elders 1) taste and food value must be emphasized as important product characteristics, and 2) nutrition education programs must focus on increasing calcium intake, the contribution of dairy products to nutrient intake, and management of lactose intolerance. (Funded by the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board and administered in cooperation with the National Dairy Council, and GA-AES Hatch #629.)