Abstract
Background: Dietary protein intake is important for health. Eggs, as a protein-rich food with characteristics that appeal to older adults, may provide opportunities for increasing protein intake. Interventions that focus on the challenges or facilitators that affect a large proportion of the population will be of increased impact on a population-wide scale. This work aimed to investigate the relative importance of a number of challenges to and facilitators of egg consumption in a UK population-wide sample of older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional postal questionnaire, measuring habitual egg intake, reasons for eating/not eating eggs and a range of demographic and lifestyle characteristics, was administered by post to 1082 older adults. Results: 230 questionnaires suitable for analysis were returned (110 females, ages 55–80+ years). Habitual egg intake ranged from 1–89 eggs/month, mean (standard deviation) = 18 (13) eggs/month. Reasons for eating/not eating eggs were reduced using Principal Components Analysis to 23 challenges and facilitators of egg consumption. Regression analyses revealed habitual egg intake to be associated with 10 challenges and facilitators (smallest β = 0.14, p = 0.04), and with protein consumption, age and Body Mass Index (smallest β = 0.14, p = 0.03). Discussion: Many possibilities for future intervention based on existing challenges or facilitators were found. Our results suggest that strategies to increase egg consumption in older adults should focus on: improving liking, tastiness and adding variety; promoting eggs as an everyday type of food; reducing stereotypes about who does and who does not consume eggs; and promoting eggs for people who have noticed the effects of ageing on their food intake. Strategies that highlight value-for-money may be counterproductive. Future work evaluating the value of these strategies for improving protein intake in this age group would be of value.
Highlights
The older population is rapidly increasing [1], maintaining or improving health in later years is becoming increasingly important
Strongest associations were found between a higher habitual egg intake and greater liking and/or greater agreement that eggs are tasty and add variety to the diet, higher agreement that eggs are an everyday type of food, less agreement that a certain type of person eats eggs and greater agreement with eating less with aging
Associations between egg consumption and eating less with ageing are unsurprising. These findings suggest that older adults with more age-related difficulties with food preparation and shopping, or age-related deteriorations in sensory abilities and/or appetite tend to eat more eggs, and support suggestions that compared to other protein-rich foods, eggs may be suitable for older adults with sensory or physical impairments [4,27,28,34,35]
Summary
The older population is rapidly increasing [1], maintaining or improving health in later years is becoming increasingly important. Dietary protein intake has a considerable impact on health and physical functioning [2,3,4]. Dietary protein intake is important for health. As a protein-rich food with characteristics that appeal to older adults, may provide opportunities for increasing protein intake. This work aimed to investigate the relative importance of a number of challenges to and facilitators of egg consumption in a UK population-wide sample of older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional postal questionnaire, measuring habitual egg intake, reasons for eating/not eating eggs and a range of demographic and lifestyle characteristics, was administered by post to 1082 older adults.
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