COMPARATIVE STUDY OF FOOD CONSUMPTION PATTERNS IN URBAN AND RURAL ELDERLY POPULATION IN URMIA

As elderly population is growing fast, it is vital to pay more attention to elevating elderly health care. Since aging is accompanied by specific diseases, nutritional problems decencies develop too. As health issues and nutrition habits are different in rural and urban people, this study surveys and compares the nutritional status in the rural and urban elderly people.

This cross sectional descriptive analytic study surveyed on dietary patterns. Data were collected using 72-hour recall and food frequency questionnaire, and anthropometric measurements on 432 aged people over 60 years living in rural and urban areas in Urmia. The data were analyzed by FP2 and SPSS.

The mean BMI in the rural population was 24.9+3.99 and in the urban populations was 26.72+4.77 that shows significant difference. (p=0.001). According to Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) intak e of v itamins such as B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, E and calcium were not enough. The most inadequate intake was in B12 and calcium presenting a significant difference between groups.

The study showed elderly people living in rural areas had better nutritional statues than urban elderly people. Generally, both groups did not have standard nutritional habits so it is expected to design full implementation of the direct interventions.