Socio-economic gradient in food selection and diet quality among 70-year olds

The aim of this study was to assess social disparities in food choices and diet quality in a population of 70-year old Swedes.

Cross-sectional study among participants in the 2000 Gerontological and Geriatric Population Studies in Goteborg.

A representative population of men (n=233) and women (n=321) from Goteborg, a city on the south western coast of Sweden.

One hour diet history interviews were performed and 35 specific foods and food groups were identified; in addition a diet quality index (DQI) was calculated. Differences in food choices and diet quality scores were tested across educational and socio-economic index categories (SEI).

Men with higher education and SEI had higher diet quality scores than those with lower socio-economic status, while no differences in DQI were noted in women. Further analysis of women based on their husband's occupational group also yielded no differences in diet quality. When studying individual foods, socio-economic differences were observed in women and men.

Selection of food varies by education and occupational status in both sexes although socio-economic disparities in diet quality were observed in men only.