Grocery purchasing among older adults by chewing ability, dietary knowledge and socio-economic status

Nutrition plays a central role in health, with poor dietary habits and nutritional intake being associated with a range of chronic diseases. The aim was to examine grocery purchasing behaviour in relation to chewing ability, dietary knowledge and socio-economic status (SES) among older adults.

Data were collected by mailed survey in 2008. Grocery purchasing was measured using a sixteen-item index of compliance of food purchasing with dietary guidelines. Self-reported number of teeth was classified as an inadequate dentition if less than twenty-one teeth were present. Chewing ability was based on a five-item chewing index. Dietary knowledge was collected using twenty true/false items. SES was assessed using a subjective social status rating representing where people stand in society.

Population survey in Adelaide, South Australia.

Adults aged 60-71 years.

Responses were collected from 444 persons (response rate = 68·8 %). Among dentate persons, 24·4 % had an inadequate dentition with 10·3 % defined as 'chewing deficient'. Multivariate regression coefficients adjusted for age, sex and income showed chewing deficiency (-5·8) and low SES (-3·6) was associated (P < 0·05) with lower grocery purchasing scores, but dietary knowledge was not statistically significant.

For older adults, chewing deficiency and lower social status were associated with lower compliance with dietary guidelines, independent of dietary knowledge.