Distance from the nearest grocery stores and frequency of store-specific shopping are associated with dietary intake frequency among the community-dwelling independent elderly population.

BACKGROUND

Low accessibility to grocery stores may change dietary habits and increase health problems for elderly people living in communities.

AIM

This study investigated whether the distance from the nearest grocery stores, including supermarkets, convenience stores, and drugstores, and the frequency of store-specific shopping were associated with dietary intake frequency among elderly people.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in two towns of suburban cities. A total of 177 people aged ≥65 years were recruited ( =76.7 years). The frequency of intake of 10 food groups and dietary variety scores (DVS) were evaluated. Distances from the districts to the nearest grocery stores and the frequency of shopping during a week at each store were evaluated using a geographic information system.

RESULTS

For supermarkets, people living <300 metres from the nearest supermarket showed a higher intake frequency of fruit (=0.024) and oil/fat (=0.045), and those shopping three or more times a week showed a higher intake frequency of meat (=0.025). In the case of drugstores, people shopping one or more times a week showed a higher intake frequency of eggs (=0.006) and oil/fat (=0.048). People living <300 m from the nearest supermarkets (=0.048) and drugstores (=0.047) showed higher DVS than those living ≥500 m from the nearest supermarkets and drugstores.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that shopping at supermarkets and drugstores is associated with dietary intake frequency and dietary quality for elderly people living in suburban cities.