Investigation on the nutritional status and dietary behavior among urban and rural elderly in Bengbu

ObjectiveTo investigate the differences of the nutritional statu and dietary behavior between urban and rural elderly in Bengbu.

MethodsThe general information, eating behavior and nutritional status of 1 249 elderly people aged 65 and over stratified by multi-stage randomization from urban and rural area were investigated.

ResultsThe malnutrition rate of the elderly in Bengbu was 9.7%, and which in urban area(6.5%) was significantly lower than that in rural area(12.7%)(P < 0.01).The differences of the nutritional status among the elderly with different dietary taste and consumption frequency of vegetable, fruit, fish, poultry, egg, soybean and its product were statistically significant(P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).There was no statistical significance in nutritional status among the elderly with different frequency of consuming milk(P>0.05).The differences of the dietary taste and consumption of vegetable, fruit, fish, poultry, egg, soybean and its product between urban and rural elderly were statistically significant(P < 0.01).

ConclusionsThe malnutrition status and dietary behavior of the elderly in urban and rural area are different in Bengbu.