Food insecurity and its associated characteristics of the elderly in Seoul: analysis of the data from the Seoul Food Survey 2023.

Abstract

Background/objectives: This study examined the socio-demographic and dietary characteristics of the elderly in Seoul according to their food insecurity status and analyzed the characteristics associated with food insecurity.

Subjects/methods: The data from 513 elderly individuals aged 65 or older were analyzed using the raw data from the Seoul Food Survey 2023. The subjects were classified into food-secure or food-insecure groups. The socio-demographic and dietary characteristics of each group were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the characteristics associated with food insecurity among the elderly in Seoul.

Results: The proportion of the food-insecure group was 56.9% among the total elderly in Seoul. The main reasons for experiencing food insecurity were environmental (38.0%), followed by physical (37.5%) and financial (24.5%). The food-insecure group had a higher frequency of skipping breakfast and eating alone than the food-secure group while having lower dietary literacy and food environment satisfaction. Logistic regression analysis showed that the elderly living alone were approximately four times (odds ratio [OR], 3.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.52-8.51) more likely to suffer food insecurity than those living with others. Higher digital food literacy (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.41-0.97) and food environment satisfaction (OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.20-0.74) were associated with a lower likelihood of food insecurity.

Conclusion: These results suggest that policies aimed at improving food security for the elderly in Seoul should prioritize those living alone. Educational programs designed to enhance the ability to purchase online food, use self-service kiosks in restaurants, and use food delivery apps would effectively decrease food insecurity among the elderly in Seoul. Furthermore, policies aimed at improving the food environment may also help reduce food insecurity among this population.