A checklist of dietary behavior items for the elderly was developed based on Korean dietary guidelines. First, a literature review was conducted, and 63 preliminary items, including 30 items on food intake, 12 on eating habits, and 21 on dietary culture, were obtained to evaluate the dietary guidelines. The preliminary items were evaluated by experts using Lawshe’s method to verify the content validity. They were then revised, resulting in 52 items: 25, 11, and 16 in the food intake, eating habits, and dietary culture domains, respectively. A face-to-face survey was conducted on 331 people over 65 years of age in the metropolitan area, and their one-day food intake was surveyed using a 24-hour recall method in August 2022. The 48 items, including 24, 11, and 13 items on food intake, eating habits, and dietary culture, respectively, correlated significantly with the evaluation indicators of nutrient intake, such as mean adequacy ratio, dietary diversity score, and nutrient intake density. These items were considered suitable for evaluating the elderly's compliance with dietary guidelines.

This study was a qualitative investigation into the food security and food variety among the rural elderly. For the qualitative data collection, nineteen elderly people who lived in Yangpyeong-gun were interviewed individually. Food security and variety was evaluated based on accessibility and affordability. The participants seemed to have difficulty preparing their own meals and eating with their families or others. The frequency of vegetable intake was found to be high, as vegetables were available through cultivation. However, in terms of diversity, the intake of meat and milk, which are sources of protein and calcium, was found to be significantly low. This has to do with very poor physical accessibility. A lack of nutrition education was identified as the biggest reason for not following dietary therapy despite having a pre-existing disease condition. Therefore, for the elderly in Yangpyeong-gun, it is suggested that a basic nutrition policy for food supply that can increase their actual intake is more essential than education on cooking and nutrients. Moreover, periodic nutrition education or a regular counseling system for dietary therapy through local public health centers may help improve the health of the elderly.

본 연구는 푸드표현활동 프로그램이 노인의 주관적 기억력, 우울, 자기표현에 미치는 효과를 파악하기 위한 단일집단 사전사후 원시실험연구이다. 연구방법은 S시에 위치한 2곳의 경로당 이용 노인 대상자 36명이 참여하였으며, 2020년 1월 8일부터 2월 17일까지 총 6회기 프로그램을 시행하였다. 프로그램 전후에 주관적 기억감퇴, 우울, 자기표현의 변화를 설문지로 조사하였다. 중재 프로그램은 신체적 이완활동, 인지활동 및 다양한 ‘푸드’를 이용하여 손의 움직임과 자기표현을 할 수 있게 구성하였다. 연구결과, 푸드표현활동 프로그램은 대상자의 주관적 기억력(t=2.67, p=.011), 우울(t=3.88, p<.001), 자기표현(t=2.09, p=.044)을 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 나타났다. 본 연구 결과를 바탕으로 푸드표현활동 프로그램은 경로당 이용 노인의 우울 감소와 기억력 및 자기표현을 향상을 위한 간호중재로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

This study aim to evaluate dietary quality and nutritional status according to the consumption of health functional food using Nutrition Quotient for Korean elderly (NQ-E) for 288 elderly people attending senior welfare centers in Gyeonggi-do. The questionnaire consisted of items about general information, health functional food, and Nutrition Quotient for Korean elderly (NQ-E). Chi-squared test, Fisher's exact tests, and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) were performed using the SAS program ver. 9.4. Among the male and female subjects, the female subjects consumed more health functional food. The results of the dietary quality and nutritional status difference according to the intake of health functional food showed significant differences only in the areas of variety and abstinence among nutrition quotient factors for men, while no significant differences were observed in any of the nutrition quotient factors for women. In conclusion, focused-nutrition education program and useful guideline is needed for promoting adequate consumption of health functional foods in elderly.

Elderly with dementia in geriatric hospitals (EDGH) are highly dependent on hospital meals. This study evaluated the foodservices satisfaction and food preference of the EDGH. The survey was conducted on 104 elderly with dementia (21 males and 83 females) in 4 geriatric hospitals in Seoul and Incheon in November, 2016. Data were collected from interviews using a questionnaire that consisted of 6 questions for foodservice satisfaction and 24 questions (10 categories) for food preference. The data were analyzed using SPSS ver. 20.0. The satisfaction with taste, saltiness, texture, and variety in foodservices was good, but the satisfaction with the amount was not, and the reason for leaving food was its large serving size. The subjects preferred soft boiled rice, noodles, porridges, meats, fish, seafood, vegetables, and fruits. Among them, they preferred more janchiguksu, red bean porridge, beef, croaker, oyster, spinach, and banana. Regarding the cooking methods, they preferred soup, grill, and boiling, but not frying. The also preferred Chinese cabbage kimchi, but they did not prefer hard kkakdugi. They did not prefer milk because of diarrhea, but they preferred yogurt. Therefore, to provide a satisfying meal for EDGH, it is necessary to develop a friendly diet considering their food preferences.

The consumption of high-salt foods is an independent risk factor for increased hypertension. Thus, evaluating the relationship of taste sensitivity and pleasantness of high-salt foods such as Korean jang products, would help contribute to an understanding of salty food eating behaviors of the Korean rural elderly. This study aimed to verify the association between taste sensitivity and salinity of Korean jang products, and the preferences of food groups and nutrient intake in the rural elderly. We studied 269 elderly persons (males 83, females 186) aged above 65 years, residing in the rural area, Sunchang gun Jeonbuk. For each subject, a recognition threshold of 4 basic tastes and pleasant concentrations of NaCl were estimated using the sip- and–spit method. Taste preferences, frequency of intake of food groups, nutrient intakes, and salinity and sweetness of Korean jang products (Doenjang, Ganjang, Gochujang) were assessed. No association was found between salt taste recognition threshold and optimally preferred concentration of salt and salinity of Korean jang products. However, the sweet taste recognition threshold was positively related to the sweetness of Korean jang products. Also, the salinity of Doenjang positively correlated with the frequencies of food groups and nutrient intakes. That is to say that the sweet taste sensitivity was related to the sweetness of Korean jang products, but was not sensitive to the salty taste. The salinity of Doenjang correlated with the consumption of food and nutrient intakes. Taken together, these findings suggest the need for appropriate intervention and education to reduce the salinity of Doenjang, which is an important modifiable factor contributing to reducing sodium intake in the rural elderly.

Chewing and swallowing disorders such as dysphagia are common in the elderly people whose number is reported to continuously increase throughout the world. With this trend, the aging populations have recently become the global focus of substantial research interest in a variety of industrial fields and the food industry is also no exception. Further studies are also necessary to establish the guidelines or criteria for controlling the food texture for the elderly with different living and cultural backgrounds. An experimental attempt was made to bridge the gap between instrumental and sensory texture in a model solid food system, providing a reference texture range for the elderly diets. For doing so, uniaxial compression was applied to measure the instrumental hardness of corn starch gels that was correlated with their sensory properties perceived by the elderly aged 60 and older. A polynomial trend line was satisfactorily obtained with the formula (y=0.2188x2-5.7917x+38.14) describing the relationship between instrumental hardness and starch concentration. When the instrumental hardness (stress) was correlated with the sensory hardness, a linear correlation was observed with a coefficient of determination (R2=0.879). However, the use of logarithmic transformation exhibited the improved correlation of coefficients. A fairly linear correlation (R2>0.96) was thus observed between the instrumental and sensory hardness by a semi-logarithmic relationship known as Weber-Fechner’s law scale. In principal component analysis, two principal components that accounted for 86.71% of the total variance, separated the gel samples in terms of hardness/springiness and moistness, respectively. The categories of the starch gel samples were subdivided into five groups with different stress ranges. As a result, five categories of food texture could be successfully provided with corresponding stress range and consumer languages that can be used as a reference tool to establish the guideline or criteria for developing the elderly foods.

Development of elderly foods that improve health among the older population is needed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the preference of specific foods for development as elderly foods. A one-to-one survey method was used for data collection from 150 elderly people attending senior welfare centers. The results of the study showed that the preferred cooking materials were vegetables, meats and fishes; and preferred cooking method was soup and stew rather than deep-frying. The elderly preferred meats and seafood but they did not eat them frequently. The results of investigating the preference of specific foods including meats, Kimchi, nuts and rice cakes indicated that old people liked broiled meats, Chinese cabbage Kimchi, walnuts and nonglutinous rice cakes the most, and they did not feel comfortable with chewing the foods. Most respondents were not familiar with the elderly foods. Moreover, the most important factors affecting their choice of elderly foods were hygiene, nutrition and flavor

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relations between HbA1c level and health risk factor. For analysis, 330 elderly women aged 65 years and over were recruited in Jeonla province, Korea. The subjects were classified into two groups according to their HbA1c level; the diabetic group (HbA1c level≥6.5%, n=68, 20.6%) and control group (HbA1c level< 6.5%, n=262, 79.4%). Demographic characteristics were collected, as well as information on physical measurements, blood tests for biochemical indicators, a health status and health-related life style, dietary behavior, favorite food groups, consumption frequency of food groups and nutrient intake. Educational level of the diabetic group was significantly lower than that of the control group. The height of the diabetic group was shorter, and percentage fat of the diabetic group was higher than those of the control group. In the diabetic group, the higher concentrations of creatinine and activity of alkaline phosphatase were found to be significantly unfavorable factors. Therefore, the diabetic group was assumed to be at risk of decreased liver and renal function. The self-rated health level of the diabetic group has a declining tendency, while the medicine intake was significantly higher than that of the control group, but there are no significant differences in visiting frequency of hospital and community health center. The distribution of physical activity showed a significant difference between the groups. Although there are no significant differences in nutrient intake, the diabetic group had relatively inferior nutrient intake of diet, especially vitamin C, as contrasted with the control group. In conclusion, the weight control and increasing physical activity may be effective in the prevention of the diabetes and continuous education and intervention by specialized nutritionists will be needed for diabetic patients. These results could be useful to plan effective strategies to increase the health-life expectancy and the prevention of the diabetes of Korean elderly people living in rural areas.

In this study, we compared diet related attributes such as food taste preference, food consumption frequency and nutrition intake between elderly residents in their 80’s of areas in Jeollanam-do that are well known for longevity and those of a part of Seoul. Structured in-depth interviews were conducted by trained interviewers on 125 consented subjects (67 Jeonnam and 58 Seoul). Differences of groups were tested using Chi-square tests for nominal or ordinal data and t-tests and ANOVA tests for ratio data. The elderly from Jeonnam tended to sleep longer, express emotion more freely, and interact with others more often than those from Seoul. The elderly tended to prefer sweet or salty tastes, which might be highly related to serious health problems. The most frequently consumed foods were napa cabbage kimchi (2.19 times/day) and multigrain rice (1.99 times/day). Elderly from Jeonnam tended to consume garlic, milk, beans and roasted barley/corn teas less often; whereas, they consumed porridge, dried radish greens, potato, fermented fish, dried fish, pork rib, pork belly, soybean paste soup, soybean paste/Ssamjang, other kimchis, pickled vegetables, snacks, cookies, and green/black teas more often than elderly residents from Seoul. Differences in nutrition intake between the regions were greater than differences between the perceived levels of household economic status. NAR and INQ for folate were lower among elderly from Jeonnam than those from Seoul, while those for protein, vitamin C, niacin, vitamin B6 were higher. The study results indicated that elderly from Jeonnam engaged in a more diverse diet than the elderly from Seoul.

To develop an elderly diet food that can easily be chewed and swallowed, we manufactured elderly diet food using chicken breast meat with various amounts (0.9, 1.1, 1.3 and 1.5 g) of gelatin used as a viscosity agent, and evaluated their physico-chemical and sensory properties. As the amount of gelatin decreased, the lightness were increased, but the redness and yellowness were decreased. In the texture profile analysis, hardness, springiness, gumminess and chewiness were significantly increased with increased amounts of gelatin, but adhesiveness gradually decreased. Cohesiveness was no significantly difference. Free amino acid contents in elderly diet food using chicken breast meat did not show trend to increase or decrease, but the tyrosine contents were significantly decreased with increased amounts of gelatin. The sensory evaluations including taste, flavor and color were not significantly different. However, the texture and overall acceptance of elderly diet food using chicken meat containing 1.3 g of gelatin had the highest acceptance.

To investigate the preference of food of the elderly for developing processed elderly food, this study was conducted from February 2014 to March 2014 by questionnaire including dietary behaviors, food preference, and frequency of food intake to 119 elderly (49 males and 70 female) who were more than 65 years old and living in Jeonju. Most subjects ate three meals regularly and most of the subjects’ favorite meal time was lunch. The duration time of one meal was 20 min (48.74%). The most preferred taste was delicate and sweet. The subject preferred cooked rice with multi-grains, kalguksu (hot noodle), and abalone porridge to other staple foods. Almost 50% of the subjects liked soybean paste soup and stew, and the ratio of elderly who liked Chinese cabbage kimchi was 72.3%. Preference for panfried foods leaned toward pan fried fish fillet and mung bean pancake. Most subjects preferred plant foods like vegetables, lettuce, and seaweeds. The elderly in Jeonju liked roasted pork, grilled yellow croaker, and stir-fried octopus. Cooked and seasoned vegetables (namul) were the most preferred type by the elderly. Preferences for dishes and food materials were not affected by sex and ages. Most subjects preferred eating out with Korean food. Preference for eating food was selected in grilled beef ribs, a pork cutlet, sushi·broiled eels, and Chinese noodles. Western Japanese and Chinese food were preferred by an elderly subject, who was male and who liked Japanese food more than female.

The consumption of a wide variety of food groups is considered one of the key components of nutritional adequacy. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Koreans includes the consumption of a variety of foods from diverse food groups as a component of a normal diet. A survey was conducted to evaluate the relationship between the dietary diversity of food groups and nutrient intake in elderly patients (age 65 and above) at a rural area in Korea (Inje). 296 subjects (111 male and 185 female) were probed in a 3 day 24-recall dietary survey. Subjects were grouped according to food group intake frequency, based on six food groups (grain, meat/fish/legume/egg, vegetable, fat/oil, dairy, fruit). Nutritional quality was evaluated according to the numbers of nutrients under EAR (Estimated Average Requirements), and MAR (mean adequacy ratios). The frequency of elderly subjects consuming a meat/fish/legumes/egg food group less than once per day was 29.4%. The frequency of elderly subjects consuming fat/oil food group less than once per day was 65.8%. The percentage of subjects who did not eat dairy food was 88.8%, and that of subjects who did not eat fruit was 57.5%. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to develop models relating nutritional quality to possible food group intake frequency factors. Using the number of nutrients under EAR as a dependent variable, the meat/fish/legume/egg food group intake frequency explained 9.9% of variance, followed by the grain group, fat/oil group, dairy group, and vegetable and fruit group (Model R2=0.260). For mean nutrient adequacy ratio as a dependent variable, the model R2 was 0.326. The results of this study suggest that a highly varied diet in elderly might be associated with better nutritional quality, as assessed by nutrient intake. Accordingly, dietary guidelines should take into consideration nutritional characteristics in order to improve intake from all major food groups and to provide a variety of foods in the diet.

The principal objective of this study was to assess the bone density and processed food intake behavior of middle-aged and elderly women in the Seoul area. The subjects were assigned to one of the following groups on the basis of BMI: namely, the underweight, normal, and overweight groups. The results are summarized as follows: The average BMI and systolic blood pressure of the three groups were 19.0, 127.3 mmHg; 22.4, 132.8 mmHg; and 26.8, 136.1 mmHg respectively. The BQI and T-scores of the three groups were as follows: 56.6, -2.50; 62.3, -2.22; 66.0, -2.03 respectively. The bone status of the three groups, in terms of the percentage of normal and osteoporosis, were 9.5%, 52.4%; 8.3% 33.0%; and 8.8%, 23.6% respectively. We noted no significant differences in processed food intake (frozen, cold and can processed food, instant and convenience store food, basic side dishes) behavior among the three groups. However, we recorded a negative value between processed food intake and bone density (BQI, T-score, %young adult, Z-score, %age-matched) generally. In particular, ramyeon (r=-0.1574, p<0.05) and cup-ramyeon (r=-0.1996, p<0.05) intake were significantly associated with the T-scores of bone density levels. The results of this study revealed that processed food intake was not generally desirable for healthy bone. Thus, practically and systematically organized education regarding a good and healthy dietary life is highly recommended.

This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of food commodity supplementary program for low-income, living alone elderly people. The subjects were 57 low income aged females who lived alone in Bucheon city. The food commodity supplementary program lasted for 6 months, supplying one meal per day consisting with grains, meat, vegetables, dairy and fruit. Dietary intake, anthropometric measurements, and blood profiles were assessed. After 6 months of food commodity supplemented period, dietary intakes of protein(p〈0.05), calcium(p〈0.05), iron(p〈0.05) and vitamin B(p〈0.001) were significantly increased. The mean weight(p〈0.05) and BMI(p〈0.05) were increased, and the frequency of BMI over 25kg/m2 was also raised from 54.4% to 59.7%. Serum concentrations of total protein(p〈0.001) and albumin(p〈0.001) were significantly increased, indicating improvement of protein status. The frequency of anemia was decreased from 45.6% to 26.3%. However, the proportion of dyslipidemia was increased. In general the stable food commodity supplementary program was effective to improve general nutritional status of the poor aged who lived alone, however, nutrient intakes still did not meet RDA for the elderly and the rates of obesity and dyslipidemia were increased. Therefore, local government should provide more active food support program and the selection of food items for commodity should be evaluated at regular intervals.

The Chosun Dynasty in the 18th century was a period of revival for science, art, and culture, bringing about Silhak(practical science), a new trend in the history of Chosun thoughts. In the history of fine arts, realistic landscape paintings and genre paintings were popular as realism became prevalent. From the aspect of food culture, in particular, the luxurious and elegant Korean-styled food culture was completed during this period. Iwanwasuseoksihoedo was painted by Jeong Hwang (1735-1800) in 1789, depicting a banquet on an elder's 60th birthday. It is classified as a genre painting in the late Chosun Period but it contains things that comes into our heart, which are white porcelain with blue celadon pictures, white porcelain bowls, busy atmosphere of a banqueting house where food is being carried in a hurry and elders' serene appearance. All these things show the abundance of life, the room and comfort of old ages, and the beauty and relish of life in the well-arranged living ground. Hoehonyedo was painted on an elder's 60th marriage anniversary by an unknown artist presumably in the 18th century is a painting as realistic as a documentary photograph. The work gives viewers pleasure and comfort because it describes not a mighty clan but the superb later years of an official who had lived right and upright life. In the aspect of food culture, it displays the food culture of the splendid sixtieth marriage anniversary of a Korean official through noble etiquette among family members, seat planning, unique table culture and high quality tableware including white porcelain with celadon pictures and pure white porcelain.

Food habit, eating-out pattern, smoking and drinking habits of 814 elderly (aged over 60) living in Incheon were surveyed by questionnaire. The ratio of the elderly who have balanced meals at moderate amount was slightly higher in urban area. Urban elderly tended to have mild foods, while rural elderly preferred hot and salty foods. Score for food habit was higher in urban elderly and there was no difference between male and female elderly. Most urban elderly had their meal at the public facilities for elderly, while most rural elderly used general restaurant and public room for elderly. Korean foods were the most favorite menu when ate out. Ratio of elderly who have difficulties in chewing was 21.2 and 39.6% for urban and rural elderly, respectively. Many elderly, especially more than 70% of female elderly, prepared the meals for themselves. Rural elderly smoked and drank more than urban elderly and male elderly did more than female elderly.

Preferences of 814 elderly living in Incheon for dishes, food materials and cooking methods were investigated. The survey was conducted from Dec. 2000 to Jan. 2001 by questionnaires. Subjects preferred cooked rice with beans, kalkooksoo(hot noodle), gomtang(soup with beef), bibimbap(rice with assorted mixture) to other staple dishes. However, preference for hashed rice or curried rice was very low. More than 50% of the subjects liked soybean paste soup and stew, and the ratio of elderly who liked Chinese cabbage kimchi was 68.7%. There was no significant difference in preference for pan-fried foods according to food materials in them. Subjects liked injolmi(waxy rice cake), shikhye(fermented rice drink) and coffee the most. Most subjects preferred plant foods like vegetables, legumes and seaweeds to animal foods. Preference of elderly for milk and yoghurt was reatively high; however, that for ham, butter and cheese was low. Elderly in Incheon liked roasted beef, beef soup and roasted pork the most. Chicken was preferred when it was boiled in water with garlic, ginseng, and so on. Cooked and seasoned vegetables (Namul) were the most preferred type by elderly. Preferences for dishes and food materials were more affected by living places of the subjects than by sex, and the reverse was true in preference for cooking method of food materials.

The health, anthropometry, food habits, food intake frequency and nutrition intake of 747(219 men and 528 women) elderly people living in Inchon were investigated. Mean BMI, WHR, triceps skinfold thickness, BIA, blood pressure of the subjects were 23.4, 1.0, 15.6mm, 28.6%, 137.5/78.8mmHg in men and 24.9, 0.87, 22.6mm, 36.2%, 130.8/73.8mmHg in women respectively. Over the half of the subjects perceived themselves unhealthy and 86.2% of the elderly suffered from one or more illness. Ratios of the smoking and the drinking elderly were 40%, 43% in men and 12%, 11% in women. The major reason to stop smoking or drinking was the concern about their health. Food habit score of the subjects was relatively high (14.45/18.0) but food intake frequency score were relatively low (21.18/33.0) except the food groups of cereal & grain, white vegetable and sweets. The foods consumed by the elderly were very limited in quality and also in quantity. The daily intakes of calorie, protein, iron, vit. B1, niacin and vit. C were less than 2/3 of RDA and the amounts of calcium, vit. A and vit. B2 consumption were less than 1/2 of RDA.