NUTRITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND EATING HABITS OF ELDERLY WOMEN FROM BIG-CITY ENVIRONMENT

*Joanna Wyka, Jadwiga Biernat

Summary
Aim: The study was undertaken to evaluate nutritional knowledge and eating habits of women over 60 years of age from the big-city environment.
Material and methods: Nutritional knowledge and eating habits of 234 senior women over 60 years of age from Wrocław were evaluated by means of a direct interview and based on a validated questionnaire elaborated at the Chair of Human Nutrition.
Results: Ca. 91% of the examined senior women claimed that diet exerted a significant effect on human health. Amongst food products recommended for frequent consumption the women included fruits and vegetables (93% of answers), white meat (78% of answers) and dairy products (70%), whereas amongst those from the group – „I consume rarely” the included: red meat (75%) and sweets (74%). The proper number of glasses of beverages drunk daily (i.e.8-9) was indicated by as little as 23% of the subjects. Usually, the women were eating 3 meals a day (47%) and did not salt them additionally on the plate (70%). Ca. 60% of the seniors were using dietary supplements every day (usually of two types). The qualitative assessment of nutrition patterns demonstrated that everyday consumption of milk was declared by 45% of the women, that of fruits – by 75% of the women, that of vegetables – by 80% of the women, and that of non-carbonated mineral water – by 60% of the seniors. Ca. 63% of the women examined evaluated their eating habits as satisfactory. Most of the respondents (85%), however, pointed to the need of nutritional education, dietetic in particular, amongst the elderly.
Conclusion: The level of nutritional knowledge was good in most of the women examined, which has been indicated by answers collected in the survey. In order to improve health status, however, additional intensified health-promoting actions are necessary in the entire population of the elderly people.

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