Indicators of healthy food consumption among older adults with diabetes and/or hypertension are similar to healthy older adults: results from a population based study in Southern Brazil

Objective

The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of indicators of healthy food consumption among older adults with diabetes and/or hypertension and whether or not they occur more frequently than in healthy older adults.

Methods

Cross-sectional study with 1656 older adults who participated in the first wave of a longitudinal, population-based study held in Florianopolis, Southern Brazil, EpiFloripa Idoso 2009/2010, using the self-reported diagnosis of diabetes and/or hypertension as exposure variable and indicators of healthy food consumption as outcomes.

Results

Only 22.7% (95% CI: 20.1–25.3) of females and 29.6% (95% CI:25.8–33.4) of males eat fruit ≥ 3 times/day and vegetables ≥ 2 times/day. More than one third of the sample had frequent consumption (> 2 times/week) of fats from meat/chicken, fried foods and whole milk.

Conclusion

We found that the indicators of healthy food consumption do not differ among older adults with and without diabetes and/or hypertension, indicating no adopting of the secondary prevention measures in the treatment of these diseases.