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Factors Affecting Food Consumption among Older Adults in a Rural Community in Northern Thailand

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Objectives: In this study, we determined the food consumption behavior and identified its factors among older adults in a rural community in northern Thailand, based on the PRECEDE model. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 366 older adults. Data on demographic characteristics and oral health status, predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors, and food consumption behavior were collected using questionnaires. To identify the factors associated with food consumption, we used an ordinal logistic regression analysis. Results: Older adults consumed healthy food such as vegetables and eggs at a high level and consumed unhealthy food such as sticky rice and sodium seasoning at a high level. Three explanatory variables showed statistically significant associations with good food consumption behavior, including being female (p = .035), having 20 or more usable teeth (p = .012), and having a good level of social support (p = .033). Conclusions: Older adults consumed a high levels of healthy foods, such as vegetables and eggs, and a unhealthy foods such as sticky rice and sodium seasoning. The females that had 20 or more usable teeth, and that had a good level of social support were more likely to exhibit good food consumption behavior.

Keywords: FOOD CONSUMPTION BEHAVIOR; OLDER ADULTS; PRECEDE MODEL

Document Type: Research Article

Affiliations: 1: Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University, Lampang Province, Thailand 2: Ban Yangoay Health Promoting Hospital, Hang Chat District, Lampang Province, Thailand 3: Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University, Lampang Province, Thailand, and Thammasat University Research Unit in One Health and Ecohealth, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani Province, Thailand 4: Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University, Lampang Province, Thailand, and Thammasat University Research Unit in Environment, Health and Epidemiology, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani Province, Thailand

Publication date: October 1, 2024

This article was made available online on October 31, 2024 as a Fast Track article with title: "Factors Affecting Food Consumption among Older Adults in a Rural Community in Northern Thailand".

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  • The American Journal of Health Behavior seeks to improve the quality of life through multidisciplinary health efforts in fostering a better understanding of the multidimensional nature of both individuals and social systems as they relate to health behaviors.

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