scholarly journals Understanding Food Consumption Frequencies Among U.S. Chinese Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 242-242
Author(s):  
Shenglin Zheng ◽  
Dexia Kong ◽  
Qun Le ◽  
XinQi Dong

Abstract A healthy diet is essential to various health outcomes that are common among minority aging populations. To explore frequencies and correlates of food consumption among U.S. Chinese older adults, this study used data from the Population-based Study of Chinese Elderly (PINE) collected in Chicago during 2015-2017 (N=3053). Food consumption frequencies of five food groups (vegetables, fruits, grains, protein foods, and dairy) were assessed by a validated 48-item food frequency questionnaire. All responses of consumption frequency were transformed to “times per day” and weighted by reported portion size. The average frequencies of vegetables, grains, and protein foods intake among the U.S. Chinese older adults were 2.02 (SD±1.32), 1.32 (SD±0.70), and 1.58 (SD±0.90) times/day, respectively. Fruits and dairy consumption frequencies were much lower: 0.76 (SD±0.70) and 0.48 (SD±0.53) times/day. In addition, higher levels of education were correlated with higher consumption of all five food groups. Being female was positively correlated with frequencies of fruits and dairy intake. In contrast, poorer life quality and having more children were correlated with less intake of all five food groups. Older age, preference to speak Cantonese/Taishanese compared to Mandarin/English, and poorer health status were also correlated with lower consumption frequencies of fruit and dairy. The study provides important dietary data of U.S. Chinese older adults and sheds light on significant socioeconomic correlates of food consumption. More in-depth investigations are needed to clarify the sociocultural determinants of dietary behavior and how they relate to different health outcomes among the U.S. Chinese population.

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 200-200
Author(s):  
XinQi Dong ◽  
Dexia Kong

Abstract Recognizing the central role of family-oriented values in Chinese culture, developing a family-based understanding of health and wellbeing in Chinese Americans is imperative. By linking two unique population-based datasets (one on Chinese older adults, and another on their corresponding adult children caregivers), the purpose of this symposium is to present interactive analyses of dyad-level data to achieve an interpersonal understanding of health outcomes of Chinese older adults and their adult children within the family context. Data were obtained from 807 Chinese older adults-adult children dyads by merging data from two epidemiological studies, namely the Population Study of ChINese Elderly in Chicago (the PINE study) and the PIETY study of corresponding adult children caregivers of PINE participants. Specifically, this symposium presents findings from five interconnected research projects. Session 1 provides an overview of study design and sample characteristics of the dyadic dataset. Session 2 examines the relationship between adult children’s endorsement of the filial piety value and older parents’ mental health outcomes. Session 3 investigates the level of congruence between older parents’ self-perceived mental health and adult children’s evaluation of their parents’ mental health. Session 4 investigates the extent to which depressive symptoms among older parents were associated with those of their adult children. Session 5 explores the relationship between older parents’ physical function and adult children’s perceived caregiving burden. Taken together, this symposium presents potential contributions of dyad-level analyses in advancing minority population health. Study findings have the potential to inform the development of family-centered intervention strategies targeting Chinese Americans.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaolei Han ◽  
Ziying Jiang ◽  
Yuanjing Li ◽  
Yongxiang Wang ◽  
Yajun Liang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics among Chinese older adults are poorly understood. We investigated sex disparities in CVH metrics and their management among rural-dwelling older adults in China. Methods This community-based study included 5026 participants (age ≥ 65 years; 57.2% women) in the baseline survey of a multimodal intervention study in rural China. In March–September 2018, data were collected through face-to-face interviews, clinical examinations, and laboratory tests. We defined six CVH metrics (three behavioral factors—smoking, body mass index, and physical activity; three biological factors—blood pressure, total cholesterol, and blood glucose) following the modified American Heart Association’s recommendations. We performed descriptive analysis separately for men and women. Results Of all participants, only 0.8% achieved ideal levels in all six CVH metrics. Men were more likely than women to have ideal levels in all CVH metrics but smoking. Women had higher prevalence of ideal global (9.7% vs. 7.8%) and behavioral (18.3% vs. 9.5%) CVH metrics (p < 0.001), whereas men had higher prevalence of ideal biological CVH metrics (5.4% vs. 3.5%, p < 0.001). The prevalence of ideal global and behavioral CVH metrics increased with age in both women and men (p for trend< 0.001). Women were more likely to be aware of their hypertension and diabetes, and to receive antihypertensive treatment, while men were more likely to achieve the goal of high cholesterol treatment (p < 0.05). Conclusions The CVH metrics among older adults living in the rural communities in China are characterized by an extremely low proportion of optimal global CVH metrics and distinct sex differences, alongside poor management of major biological risk factors. Trial registration ChiCTR1800017758 (Aug 13, 2018).


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 799-800
Author(s):  
Bei Wu ◽  
Stephen Shuman ◽  
Elisa Ghezzi

Abstract Oral health status and dental care utilization is strongly associated with social and behavioral factors and health outcomes. The five papers in this symposium address how several of these factors affect oral health and dental care among diverse groups of older adults. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, the first paper examined the impact of early childhood disadvantages on oral health in later life among adults age 51 and above in the U.S. The second paper used large-scale epidemiological data that addressed the relationship between acculturation and subsequent oral health problems. It also tested the moderating role of neighborhood disorder in such a relationship among older Chinese Americans. The third paper demonstrated the importance of examining different pathways among foreign-born and native-born Chinese older adults with regard to offspring’s support on their oral health outcomes. While increasing evidence shows that cognitive function is associated with oral health, limited studies have been conducted to examine the impact of cognitive impairment, e.g., Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and related dementias (RD), on dental care utilization and costs in older adults. The fourth paper aimed to address this knowledge gap. Results showed that AD and RD had different impacts on different types of dental care utilization and costs. The fifth paper further displayed that individuals with cognitive impairment face a significant challenge in handling dental-related medications. This symposium provides policy and clinical implications on improving oral health and dental care utilization among older adults in the U.S. Oral Health Interest Group Sponsored Symposium.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 603
Author(s):  
Isaac Anane ◽  
Fengying Nie ◽  
Jiaqi Huang

Dietary inadequacy is a major challenge among young children in Ghana. Nutritional policies are required for optimum child nutrition and development. This study explored food consumption and dietary diversity by socioeconomic status and geographical location among children aged 6–23 months in Ghana. We used the latest national representative, cross-sectional data from the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS-2014). A total of 887 children aged 6–23 months were used in the final analysis. The survey collected data on children’s food consumption through their mothers in the 24 h recall method. Multiple logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between socioeconomic status and geographical location with food consumption and adequate dietary diversity after adjusting for control variables. The study revealed an association between specific food item consumption, food groups, and dietary diversity by socioeconomic and geographic characteristics. However, dairy consumption increased faster than other nutritional foods when socioeconomic status increased. Furthermore, the study revealed that children’s chances of consuming particular food items and food groups differed across Ghana’s 10 regions. The average probabilities of consuming adequate dietary diversity between the Greater Accra region and Ashanti region were 43% vs. 8% (p < 0.001). Consumption of grains, root, and tubers were relatively higher but low for Vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables and legumes and nuts for children aged 6–23 months in Ghana. Overall, the mean dietary diversity score was low (3.39; 95% CI: 3.30–3.49) out of eight food groups, and the prevalence of adequate dietary diversity was 22% only. There is a need for policy interventions to ensure appropriate dietary practices to promote healthy growth of children.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S814-S814
Author(s):  
XinQi Dong ◽  
Melissa Simon

Abstract The increasing diversity in the aging population warrants systematic investigations regarding ethnic differences related to cognitive aging and ethnicity-unique risk factors. However, due to the great paucity of population-based longitudinal data on cognitive aging in racial/ethnic minority populations, our knowledge in this area remain limited. The purpose of this symposium is, therefore, to examine various psychological, socio-cultural, and physical factors associated with cognitive aging among U.S. Chinese older adults, representing one of the biggest and fastest growing older minority populations nationally. Using longitudinal data from a population-based prospective cohort study, namely The Population Study of ChINese Elderly in Chicago (PINE) with a sample size of 3,157, this symposium presents findings from five research projects. Session 1 investigates the relationship between psychological well-being and change of cognitive function over four years. Session 2 and 3 examine the relationships between two socio-cultural factors and cognitive function. Specifically, session 2 investigates the associations between immigration-related factors and the incidence of cognitive impairment. Session 3 explores the relationship between cognitive function and Tai-Chi practice. Session 4 and 5 examine the relationships between two physical health indicators and cognitive aging. Specifically, session 4 examines the relationship between physical function and change of cognitive function over two years. Session 5 explores the association between body mass index and cognitive function decline over two years. Taken together, this symposium aims to further our knowledge of cognitive aging among ethnically/culturally diverse populations. The research findings will identify unique factors related to cognitive aging in older minority populations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S929-S929
Author(s):  
Dexia Kong ◽  
XinQi Dong

Abstract The increasing diversity in U.S. aging population warrants improved understanding of risk factors of cognitive aging in minority populations. This study presents the prevalence of incident cognitive impairment (CI) among U.S. Chinese older adults; and the relationship between social engagement and incident CI. Data were obtained from the Population-based Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago, a prospective cohort study of Chinese older adults. Baseline (collected between 2011 and 2013) and one subsequent wave of data (collected between 2013 and 2015) were used in analyses (N=2,713). Social engagement was measured by the frequency of participation in social and cognitive activities (range=0-65). Cognitive function was assessed by a battery of 5 validated instruments. Incidence of CI was defined as having a follow-up cognition score lower than 1.5 standard deviations below the mean baseline cognition score. Logistic regression analyses were conducted. Nearly 6% of the sample reported incident CI. Chinese older adults who are more socially-engaged had a lower likelihood of developing CI (odds ratio [OR] 0.94, 0.92-0.96). The relationship was consistent across cognitive domains, including episodic memory (OR 0.95, 0.92-0.97), working memory (OR 0.92, 0.88-0.95), and perceptual speed (OR 0.95, 0.92-0.98). Furthermore, older age (OR 1.12, 1.09-1.15), and lower education (OR 0.91, 0.87-0.96) were associated with incident CI. No significant association was observed between gender, income, marital status, household size, acculturation, medical morbidities, depressive symptoms, and incident CI. The findings highlight the importance of social engagement in cognitive aging. Discrepancies with prior literature and implications of these findings will be discussed.


2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 1242-1248
Author(s):  
Yajun Liang ◽  
Kristina Johnell ◽  
Zhongrui Yan ◽  
Chuanzhu Cai ◽  
Hui Jiang ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 112 (10) ◽  
pp. 1644-1653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Orlich ◽  
Karen Jaceldo-Siegl ◽  
Joan Sabaté ◽  
Jing Fan ◽  
Pramil N. Singh ◽  
...  

Vegetarian dietary patterns have been reported to be associated with a number of favourable health outcomes in epidemiological studies, including the Adventist Health Study 2 (AHS-2). Such dietary patterns may vary and need further characterisation regarding foods consumed. The aims of the present study were to characterise and compare the food consumption patterns of several vegetarian and non-vegetarian diets. Dietary intake was measured using an FFQ among more than 89 000 members of the AHS-2 cohort. Vegetarian dietary patterns were defined a priori, based on the absence of certain animal foods in the diet. Foods were categorised into fifty-eight minor food groups comprising seventeen major food groups. The adjusted mean consumption of each food group for the vegetarian dietary patterns was compared with that for the non-vegetarian dietary pattern. Mean consumption was found to differ significantly across the dietary patterns for all food groups. Increased consumption of many plant foods including fruits, vegetables, avocados, non-fried potatoes, whole grains, legumes, soya foods, nuts and seeds was observed among vegetarians. Conversely, reduced consumption of meats, dairy products, eggs, refined grains, added fats, sweets, snack foods and non-water beverages was observed among vegetarians. Thus, although vegetarian dietary patterns in the AHS-2 have been defined based on the absence of animal foods in the diet, they differ greatly with respect to the consumption of many other food groups. These differences in food consumption patterns may be important in helping to explain the association of vegetarian diets with several important health outcomes.


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