Awareness and use of nutrition information predict measured and self-rated diet quality of older adults in the USA.

OBJECTIVES

To examine: (1) diet quality of older adults, using the Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI-2010) and self-rated diet quality, (2) characteristics associated with reported awareness and use of nutrition information and (3) factors associated with HEI score and self-rated diet quality.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study. Based on Day 1 and/or Day 2 dietary recalls, the Per-Person method was used to estimate HEI-2010 component and total scores. T-tests and ANOVA were used to compare means. Logistic and linear regressions were used to test for associations with diet quality, controlling for potential confounders.

SETTING

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009-2014.

PARTICIPANTS

Three thousand and fifty-six adults, aged 60 years and older, who completed at least one 24-h recall and answered questions on awareness and use of nutrition information.

RESULTS

Mean HEI score for men was significantly lower than for women (56·4 ± 0·6 v. 60·2 ± 0·6, P < 0·0001). Compared with men, more women were aware of (44·8 % v. 33·7 %, P < 0·05) and used (13·7 % v. 5·9 %, P < 0·05) nutrition information. In multivariable analyses, awareness and use of nutrition information were significant predictors of both HEI and self-rated diet quality for both women and men. Groups with lower nutrition awareness included men, non-Whites, participants in nutrition assistance programmes and those with lower education and socio-economic status.

CONCLUSIONS

Nutrition awareness and use of nutrition information are associated with diet quality in adults 60 years and older. Gaps in awareness of dietary guidelines in certain segments of the older adult population suggest that targeted education may improve diet quality for these groups.