EATING HABITS OF THIRD-AGE PERSONS

Abstract

The conducted research aimed to determine the dietary habits of elderly people. The research was conducted on a sample of 237 respondents differentiated by gender, 133 males and 104 females and by age 65 - 89 years. Data processing was done in the SPSS program and descriptive and comparative statistics were used to obtain data. Descriptive parameters were created for the analysis of the factual state of the respondents. The collected data were analyzed using the Microsoft Excel 2007 tool, and are presented in tables. It is evident that the health status of the respondents worsens with age, and dietary habits change in a positive sense with age. Given that the world's population is aging, it is necessary to emphasize attention to certain needs and challenges faced by many older people. Nutrition is an important element of health in the elderly population and affects the aging process. Although it is a study on a relatively small number of subjects, in comparison with a larger European study, it becomes relevant for proving the present problem of malnutrition among elderly patients. It is necessary to take all measures to increase the awareness of health workers about this problem in order to successfully prevent it or stop it in time. Looking at the entire sample of respondents globally, we can conclude that overall, a significant number of respondents do not pay enough attention to the structure of foods in their diet and water consumption. In line with previous research, the results of this study highlight the importance of dietary habits in creating a healthy lifestyle and preventing chronic non-communicable diseases.