Health behaviour of an elderly population in eastern Finland in 1982

The health behaviour of men and women aged 65 to 74 years residing in eastern Finland was studied by a self-administered questionnaire as a method of data collection. About 27% of the men, but only 3% of the women smoked. About 60% of the men and 23% of the women reported that they drank alcohol at least occasionally. Men drank alcohol in greater amounts than women. Men said that they ate potatoes more often than women, but women ate other vegetables and fresh and frozen berries and fruits more frequently than men. The type of milk drank by men had a higher fat content than that drunk by women. The type of fat usually used both on bread and in cooking was similar for both men and women, and it was mostly butter. Men received more fat from milk and on bread than women. Men drank more coffee and soft drinks than women and ate sweets more frequently than women. The results suggested that the health behaviour of the elderly men was unhealthier than that of the elderly women. Older (70-74 yrs.) men and women received more fat from milk than younger (65-69 yrs.) men and women; this being the most significant difference between the two age groups. The findings showed that there is a need for health education in this elderly Finnish population. The main topics suggested are to decrease fat consumption and to change the type of fat consumed in both genders, to increase root, vegetable, berry and fruit consumption in men and to decrease smoking in men.