Eating and Aging: Trends in dietary intakes among older Americans from 1977-2010 (2013)

Undergraduates: Rachel Johnston, Jennifer Poti

Faculty Advisor: Barry Popkin
Department: Nutrition

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Objective: We examined trends in older Americans aged ≥55 years (n=18,603) from 1977-2010 in calorie, macronutrient, and food group intake among US adults 55 and older._x000D_
Measurements: Dietary intake was assessed from four surveys of dietary intake from 1977-2010. Multivariable linear regression models were used to determine adjusted per capita mean energy and macronutrient intake for each survey year. Interactions were used to examine differences by age group, race/ethnicity, gender and generation. The top five food group contributors to total calorie intake were identified for each year. _x000D_
Results: Mean total calorie intake increased significantly among older Americans from 1977-2010. Increases in carbohydrate intake (43% to 49% of total calories) were coupled with decreases in total fat intake (from 40% to 34%) while saturated fat (11%) remained constant. Corresponding shifts in food group intake were observed, red meat intake declined while bread and grain desserts intake increased. Cohort analysis indicated a shift from decreasing caloric intake with age to relatively stable calorie intake despite increasing age in more recent cohorts. _x000D_
Conclusion: Increases in total calorie intake from 1977-2010, coupled with the finding that more recent generations did not show the expected age-related decrease in caloric consumption, raise concerns about obesity risk among older Americans. _x000D_