Objectives

To study the patterns of food consumption in older adults in the province of Buenos Aires (Argentina) and relate them to socioeconomic factors.

Methods

Based on the National Household Expenditure Survey (2012-2013), an analysis of main components is carried out to find and describe dietary patterns adopted by households in the province of Buenos Aires habited by older adults. Through tests of mean difference and proportions, relationships between household scores in each food pattern, average income and living alone or alone are established.

Results

Depending on the factor loads associated with each food group, the patterns that together explain 44.6% of the total variance are: i) traditional varied diet, ii) anti-protein diet, iii) vegetarian diet and iv) carbohydrate diet. It is found that the level of income and the condition of living alone are factors that could be associated with the adoption (or not) of the traditional varied diet, food pattern recommended by the dietary guidelines for the Argentine population.

Discussion

The lower frequency of households habited by older adults alone and the lower average income level of households that have a high score in the traditional varied diet, could be used by health authorities when taking measures to improve the eating patterns of older adults who live alone and receive the minimum pension.