Differences between older and younger Poles in functional food consumption, awareness of metabolic syndrome risk and perceived barriers to health improvement

Lidia Wadolowska, Danowska-Oziewicz, Marzena, Stewart-Knox, Barbara and Maria Daniel Vaz de Almeida

Food Policy, 2009, vol. 34, issue 3, pages 311-318

Abstract: The aim of the study was to analyze the differences between older and younger Poles in functional food consumption, awareness of metabolic syndrome risk and perceived barriers to health improvement. A national representative sample of 1005 adults aged 15+ was selected for the study. The eldest age group (65+ years) more often than the youngest age group (15-24 years) reported having high blood cholesterol (ORÂ =Â 12.30), high blood pressure (ORÂ =Â 10.61), central obesity (ORÂ =Â 7.94), high blood sugar (ORÂ =Â 4.33), high stress level (ORÂ =Â 2.12). A smaller number of the older in comparison to the younger consumed probiotic yoghurt drinks (ORÂ =Â 0.48), foods with added vitamins and/or minerals (ORÂ =Â 0.31), energy drinks (ORÂ =Â 0.05) at least once a week. Younger people were more likely to report that they were ready to increase physical activity (ORÂ =Â 0.21), cut down on or stop smoking (ORÂ =Â 0.48) or drink less alcohol (ORÂ =Â 0.46), but more of them would prefer to take medicines than food-related intervention (ORÂ =Â 3.05). Older people rarely complained about a lack of time (ORÂ =Â 0.26) to improve their health. In conclusion, intervention to promote a healthy lifestyle to prevent and treat metabolic syndrome would need to target older Poles.

Keywords: The; elderly; Functional; food; Health; improvement; Health; perceptions; Metabolic; syndrome (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009

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Persistent link: http://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jfpoli:v:34:y:2009:i:3:p:311-318

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