Food Security Status of Elders and Its Related Factors in Arak in 2012

Today, increased life expectancy, reduced mortality rates, and improved health conditions caused to an increase in number of elderly people, as one of the vulnerable groups in the society. On the other hand, food security is one of the necessary prerequisites for the health of the elderly people. Therefore, the present study intended to investigate the food security status of the elderly people as well as its related factors. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2012 consisting of 300 elderly people of Arak city. The study data were collected through FaCPS-FSSM food security questionnaire validated for the elderly via conducting interviews. In order to analyze the study data, SPSS software was utilized applying Chi square test, independent t–test, Pearson's correlation and regression. The results of the present study revealed that 39.3% of the elderly people had a full food security, 29 % reported food insecurity without hunger, 20.7% showed moderate food insecurity and 11% had severe food insecurity. Moreover, a significant relationship was detected between education level, occupation, marital status, body mass index, disease and household dimension with the food security (p <%5). Considering that close to 60.7% of the studied elderly revealed some degree of food insecurity as well as the various factors significantly associated with this problem in the present study, this problem in this level of vulnerable population demonds to be attended more than ever.