Comparison of health status and nutrient intakes of elders who participated in MOW and free congregate meal services.

摘要

This study was conducted to compare the health and nutritional status of 45 home-living elderly people receiving free meals on wheels (MOW) (13 men, 32 women) and 81 low income elderly people receiving free communal meals (CM) (10 men, 71 women) in Seoul. Data were obtained from questionnaires, anthropometry and interviews using 24 h dietary recall methods. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in age and body mass index. Education level, type of housing, family type and income of the 2 groups were also not significantly different. For those receiving MOW, frequencies of exercise were lower while the prevalence of stroke, respiratory disease and loneliness were higher, compared with CM. Scores for activity levels and food habits for MOW were lower than those for CM. The average daily nutritional intake of both MOW and CM were on the whole under the DRI for Koreans. Energy and macronutrient intakes of MOW tended to be lower than CM (except protein intakes for females). Ca, K, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C and folate intakes of MOW were less than 50% of DRI. Percentages of subjects consuming energy <75% of estimated energy requirements and 4 nutrients intakes less than estimated average requirements were higher in MOW (42.2%) than in CM (1.2%). Results indicated that dietary nutritional status of the MOW group was very poor, especially in the case of elderly females. It is concluded that the nutritional quality of the meal service for home-living elderly people receiving free MOW should be improved.