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

OBJECTIVES: 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.

DESIGN: 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.

SETTING: Population survey in Adelaide, South Australia.

SUBJECTS: Adults aged 60-71 years.

RESULTS: 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.

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