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Thursday, June 4, 2020eating habits, study says By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services Studies show that most people in their 50s and older were capable home cooks just before covid-19 isolation in the U.S., and only 5% had ordered groceries online, according to a new national poll. According to a University of Michigan report, the cooking skills that enabled half of older adults to eat dinner at home six or seven days a week may have served them well during the height of the pandemic, the poll suggests. However, they may need added support for grocery shopping as the pandemic continues and older adults seek to avoid covid-19. Those who cooked dinner at home most often before the pandemic were most likely to rate the overall health of their diet as excellent or very good. And those who said their physical health was excellent or very good were the most likely to say they were confident in their cooking skills or enjoyed cooking. But the poll also shows vulnerability for many older adults. One in four said they already ate most or all of their meals alone, even before the pandemic led to social-distancing rules. Solo diners reported less healthy diets than those who rarely or never ate alone. Also, 11% of older adults ate fast food three times a week or more. This group was less likely to call their overall diet healthy. The study was from the National Poll on Healthy Aging, carried out by the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation with support from AARP and Michigan Medicine, U-M’s academic medical center. It involved a national sample of more than 2,000 adults aged between 50 to 80. The data provide a baseline understanding of the food shopping, cooking and dining out habits of older U.S. citizens just a few months before covid-19 arrived. It was taken before the pandemic changed guidance about going to the grocery store, closed most sit-down restaurants and altered everything from incomes to social gatherings. “Public health guidance to avoid infection will continue to alter food-buying habits for many older people and those with health conditions, so further support for them may be needed to ensure healthy habits continue,” says Julia Wolfson, Ph.D., M.P.P., an assistant professor of health management and policy at the U-M School of Public Health, who worked on the poll. “That could include more assistance with online ordering for no-contact pickup or delivery.” The temporary closure of sit-down restaurants would have affected half of those polled, who said they dined out at least once in the week before they took the poll. Eleven percent had eaten in such restaurants three or more times in the last week. Meanwhile, pandemic-related income disruptions from lost jobs or retirement investment losses may mean fewer restaurant meals for many. This makes less-expensive home-cooking options, and food support such as federal “food stamp” SNAP benefits, Meals on Wheels and food pantries more important. The NPHA team recently reported on the cost-related food insecurity already experienced by many older adults before the pandemic. It may also increase reliance on lower-cost, but less nutritious, fast food. Past research has shown that people who eat fast food often have lower quality of diet overall and higher rates of diet-linked health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and some cancers. The National Poll on Healthy Aging results are based on responses from a nationally representative sample of 2,048 adults aged 50 to 80 who answered a wide range of questions online. Questions were written, and data interpreted and compiled, by the IHPI team. Laptops and Internet access were provided to poll respondents who did not already have them. AARP is continuing to explore the shopping and dining habits of adults over 50, with new polling that is expected to be released this summer. More information on this study can be reached at the University of Michigan web page. -------------------------- How have your eating habits changed during the pandemic? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
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