Padrões alimentares de idosas e fatores associados

Abstract

Introduction: Population aging is a phenomenon observed worldwide and has been occurring rapidly in developing countries as a result of a significant reduction in mortality rates and fertility rates. Physiological, psychosocial, and functional changes that occur with aging affect lifestyle behaviors, including dietary habits, which may lead to unfavorable changes in dietary patterns. Identifying dietary patterns among older adults can provide insights for actions and public policies promoting healthy eating as a strategy to improve their quality of life and health. Objective: To identify dietary patterns among older women and associated factors. Methods: Cross-sectional study involving older women aged ≥60 years attending Elderly Care Centers in the municipality of Cuiabá, MT, Brazil, in 2019/2020. Data collection was performed using a structured questionnaire administered through direct interviews. Weight and height were measured objectively, and food consumption was assessed using a 24-hour dietary recall. Dietary patterns were identified through exploratory factor analysis with principal component extraction, based on eighteen food/food group items. The study's dependent variables were dietary patterns, and the independent variables included sociodemographic, economic, lifestyle behaviors, weight status, and presence of chronic non-communicable diseases (high cholesterol and hypertension). Associations were analyzed using generalized linear models with logarithmic link and gamma family. Results: A total of 360 older women participated in this study, with a mean age of 69.4 years. Three dietary patterns were identified, explaining 26.4% of dietary consumption variability. The first pattern, named "Traditional," included beans, rice, poultry, and fish, with a negative factorial loading for tubers; the second pattern, named "Snack," comprised bread, butter/margarine, coffee and teas, juices, and fruits, with a negative factorial loading for meats, sweets, sugary drinks; and the third pattern, named "Prudent," included foods such as vegetables, whole-grain bread, eggs, yogurt and cheese, juices and fruits, with a negative factorial loading for poultry and fish. After adjustments for counfounding variables, it was found that elderly women belonging to lower economic classes (D and E) showed lower adherence to the "Snack" pattern (βadj=0.94; 95% CI=0.89;0.99) compared to those in classes A, B, and C, and the insufficiently active older women showed lower adherence to the "Prudent" pattern compared to sufficiently active older women (βadj=0.94; 95% CI=0.90;0.98). In addition, overweight older women showed lower adherence to the "Traditional" pattern (βadj=0.94; 95% CI=0.90;0.98) compared to those without overweight. Conclusion: Socioeconomic factors, weight status, and lifestyle were associated with dietary patterns among older women, highlighting that dietary choices and food consumption are influenced by a multitude of factors, and pointing to the need for public policy and actions that can contribute to healthy aging and nutrition.