Which Japanese Older Adults are Least Likely to Enjoy Favorable Dietary Practices

Background: With Japan becoming a super-aged society, extending healthy life expectancies resulting from favorable dietary practices in old age becomes an important policy agenda to curb the rapid increase in government healthcare expenditures. We clarify the comprehensive relationship between dietary practices among community-dwelling older adults and family structure. Methods: Individual data on dietary practices of older adults aged over 65 were obtained from the 2012 Survey of Attitudes toward Shokuiku (Food and Nutrition Education), which was conducted nationwide by the Cabinet Office of Japan in 2012. We applied ordered logistic regression for 483 valid respondents' data. Results: Among respondents separated by family composition and gender, dietary practices were found to be least favorable among single men. Although the majority of parameters regarding family composition were significant, no significant results were seen among single women, as compared to single men. Adjusting for possible covariates, it was found that irrespective of gender, single older adults living alone are less likely to (a) pursue well-balanced dietary habits, (b) follow a well-balanced diet, (c) attempt to enjoy eating meals, or (d) enjoy their meals. Besides family structure, subjective health status and knowledge regarding food significantly affect dietary practices among Japanese community-dwelling older adults. However, subjective economic status and place of residence were not significant predictors. Conclusion: Poor dietary habits can have significant consequences for single older adults, especially single old men, living alone.