Determinants of diet quality among Quebecers aged 55-74
Shatenstein, B.; Nadon, S.; Ferland, G.
Journal of Nutrition Health and Aging 8(2): 83-91
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 1279-7707 PMID: 14978603 Document Number: 581457
Objectives: The sociodemographic, lifestyle and dietary characteristics of 460 participants (aged 55-74 years; 53% female) to the 1990 Quebec Nutrition Survey (EQN; Canada) were determined to examine the relationship between determinants of food choices and diet quality. Methods: Dietary data consisted of an interviewer-administered 24-h recall and food frequency questionnaire, and a self-administered questionnaire on dietary behaviours, attitudes and perceptions. 24-h recall data were coded into food groups as described in Canada's Food Guide for Healthy Eating. Diet quality was scored using the categorical Dietary Diversity Score (DDS, range 0-4) and continuous Dietary Adequacy Score (DAS, range 0-18). A second non-consecutive recall (10% of subjects) permitted correction of food group portions for intraindividual variability and subsequent calculation and validation of usual DDS and DAS. Relationships were examined between the scores and independent variables. Forward leastwise logistic regression (DDS) and stepwise multiple regression (DAS) analyses were conducted with independent variables showing significant bivariate relationships. Results: Among men, breakfast consumption and eating commercially-prepared meals were positively associated with usual DDS, but poor social support and supplement use negatively predicted this score. Eating fewer than 3 meals daily, smoking and dietary supplement use were negative predictors of usual DAS (r2=0.155). Among women, eating commercial foods was a negative predictor of usual DDS, as was preferring overweight to depriving themselves of favourite foods. Reporting that health concerns influenced food choices and disagreeing with the statement that "effort is needed to have a nice body" were positive determinants of usual DAS in women. On the other hand, eating fewer than 3 meals daily negatively predicted this dietary index (r2=0.162). Conclusions: Gender differences in predictors of diet quality suggest the need to target nutrition health promotion to the needs of older men and women to encourage optimal eating habits.