Korean J Nutr.  2007 Dec;40(8):762-768.

Associations of Household Food Insecurity with Socioeconomic Measures, Health Status and Nutrient Intake in Low Income Elderly

• Kwon SO
• Oh SY

Abstract

This study examined household food insecurity and the associations of food insecurity with socioeconomic conditions, food behaviors, and nutrient intakes among 458 older adults (mean age = 73.2 +/- 4.5) from 5 clusters of low-income areas in Seoul, Korea. Using an adapted version of the USDA short form household food insecurity scale, 63.4% of the households were food insecure (40.7% for food insecure without hunger and 22.7% for food insecure with hunger). The proportion of household was lower on the items measured more severe level of food insecurity. Food insecurity was linearly and negatively associated with food expenditure, food secured period and the degree of nutrition management skills, health status and depression. Food secure older adults had more of energy and other nutrients from animal resources (riboflavin and animal protein, fat and calcium), but less of carbohydrates than those from the food insecure households. These results suggest household food insecurity measures used in this study was valid as well as food insecurity was prevalent and an important indicator of nutrition well-being among low income elderly persons.

Keyword

food insecurity; socioeconomic status; health; nutrient intake; elderly

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged*
Animals
Carbohydrates
Depression
Family Characteristics*
Food Supply*
Health Expenditures
Humans
Hunger
Korea
Seoul
Social Class
United States Department of Agriculture
Carbohydrates