Impact of socioeconomic status on dietary intake in adults aged 60 and over, in Northwestern Spain: a study of community‐dwelling older adults enrolled in a municipal active aging program

Abstract

Background: Unhealthy lifestyles and poor dietary habits pose a major challenge to global public health, contributing significantly to the burden of disease and mortality. This phenomenon has been connected to various sociodemographic and economic factors that negatively affect diet quality, particularly among older adults. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between socioeconomic status and diet intake among community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 60 years enrolled in a municipal active aging program (PReGe) in Northwestern Spain. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in adults aged 60 years and older residing in Salamanca, Spain. Data collection included sociodemographic variables such as age, sex, and postal address, as well as nutritional variables assessed through a food frequency questionnaire. Results: The sample consisted of 192 individuals. A positive association was observed between socioeconomic status and the intake of cereals and vegetables. In contrast, a negative association was observed with total fat and saturated fat intake (p < 0.05 for all). Conclusion: A significant association is closely related between socioeconomic status and dietary quality, highlighting a higher intake of saturated fats among individuals with lower socioeconomic status and a greater intake of vegetables and cereals among those with higher socioeconomic status in community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 60 years enrolled in a municipal active aging program in Northwestern Spain (Salamanca).