TY - JOUR
T1 - The effect of the presence of others on caloric intake in homebound older adults
AU - Locher, Julie L.
AU - Robinson, Caroline O.
AU - Roth, David L.
AU - Ritchie, Christine S.
AU - Burgio, Kathryn L.
N1 - Funding Information:
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This work was support by a grant from the National Institute on Aging (‘‘Eating Behaviors in Homebound Older Adults’’/K01 AG00994) to the first author. Additional support was provided by Public Health Service research grant No. M01-RR00032 from the National Center for Research Resources to the UAB Pittman General Clinical Research Center.
PY - 2005/11
Y1 - 2005/11
N2 - Background. Undernutrition in homebound older adults is a significant problem. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the presence of others, both within the household and during meals, on caloric intake in homebound older adults. Methods. In-depth interviews and three 24-hour dietary recalls were obtained from 50 older adults who were receiving home health services. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize participants, and hierarchical linear modeling was performed to evaluate predictors of caloric intake per meal. Results. Participants' mean age was 77. Females composed 65% and African Americans composed 42% of the sample. Analyses are based on 553 meal observations. The majority (84%) of participants consumed all meals for each of the 3 days of data collection; however, they consumed an average of only 1305 calories per day. Hierarchical linear modeling analysis indicated that persons who had others present during meals consumed an average of 114.0 calories more per meal than those who ate alone (p = .009) and that women consumed 76.7 fewer calories per meal than did men (p = .045). The presence of others within the household had no effect on caloric intake. Conclusion. This research suggests that a simple and inexpensive way to increase caloric intake in homebound older adults is to make arrangements for family members or caregivers to eat with them.
AB - Background. Undernutrition in homebound older adults is a significant problem. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the presence of others, both within the household and during meals, on caloric intake in homebound older adults. Methods. In-depth interviews and three 24-hour dietary recalls were obtained from 50 older adults who were receiving home health services. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize participants, and hierarchical linear modeling was performed to evaluate predictors of caloric intake per meal. Results. Participants' mean age was 77. Females composed 65% and African Americans composed 42% of the sample. Analyses are based on 553 meal observations. The majority (84%) of participants consumed all meals for each of the 3 days of data collection; however, they consumed an average of only 1305 calories per day. Hierarchical linear modeling analysis indicated that persons who had others present during meals consumed an average of 114.0 calories more per meal than those who ate alone (p = .009) and that women consumed 76.7 fewer calories per meal than did men (p = .045). The presence of others within the household had no effect on caloric intake. Conclusion. This research suggests that a simple and inexpensive way to increase caloric intake in homebound older adults is to make arrangements for family members or caregivers to eat with them.
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U2 - 10.1093/gerona/60.11.1475
DO - 10.1093/gerona/60.11.1475
M3 - Article
C2 - 16339337
AN - SCOPUS:29144482565
SN - 1079-5006
VL - 60
SP - 1475
EP - 1478
JO - Journals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
JF - Journals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
IS - 11
ER -