Dietary pattern and lifestyle factors among elderly individuals: A cross-sectional study

Ageing is associated with physiological, psychological, and social changes that significantly influence dietary intake and lifestyle practices. Inadequate nutrition and unhealthy lifestyle behaviours among the elderly increase the risk of malnutrition, non-communicable diseases, and functional decline. The present study aimed to assess the dietary habits and lifestyle practices among elderly individuals, with emphasis on food consumption patterns, physical activity, and health-related behaviours. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 360 elderly participants, equally comprising males and females. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire that included information on socio-demographic characteristics, frequency of food group consumption, dietary habits, physical activity patterns, and lifestyle behaviors such as substance use. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data and results were expressed as frequencies and percentages. The findings revealed that vegetables and staple cereals were the most frequently consumed food groups to be consumed daily, whereas fruits, dairy products, nuts, and animal-source foods were consumed less regularly. Tea/coffee and sugar intake was high among both genders. Lifestyle assessment showed limited engagement in regular and high-intensity physical activity, with males more involved in structured exercises and females relying largely on household work. Substance use such as smoking and alcohol consumption was reported mainly among males. Only a small proportion of participants followed any dietary or lifestyle intervention. The study highlights imbalanced dietary patterns and suboptimal lifestyle practices among the elderly, particularly inadequate intake of protective and protein-rich foods and insufficient physical activity. These findings emphasize the need for targeted nutrition education and lifestyle modification programs to promote healthy ageing and improve the overall well-being of the elderly population.