Abstract

This study was conducted to provide basic information on the nutritional status and health status of the rural elderly. The food intake, food habits and others health related factors were surveryed by interview method. The subjects was 200 people(71 male, 129 female) aged over 65 year in the Han-an area. The obtained results as follows; Their average age is 73.5$\pm$5.6. Mean height and weight of elderly men were 163 cm and 58.1 kg. respectively and 148.7 cm and 50.0 kg for women. The regularity appetite and frequency of eating snacks and eating out were higher in men than in women. The favorite snacks for men were alcohol fruit coffee and for women was fruit, candy, cookies and coffee. The daily alcohol drinking and smoking ration were 50.0%, 60.6% for men, respectively and 14.0%, 24.8 % for women. The nutritional intake ratio to RDA of men was significantly higher than women. Especially, the intakes of energy, Ca, Vit.A, Vit B$_1$, Vit B$_2$ niacin were extremely low in women. The frequency of alcohol intake was related to nutrient intake of women . There was a negative correlation between age. smoking rate and the nutritional intake. The pocket money, weight height appetite, and frequency of snacks showed a positive relation to nutritional intake. In conclusion the study shows that gender did influence food intake in the elderly, Food intake of women was extremely in deficit, because the most elderly rural women live alone. For successful aging. a program for rural elderly is needed on the govermment level, i.e actions to provide minimum economic life, food delivery and psychological/ physical health care through regional pubilc health centers.

• Keywords: elderly nutrition; food habits; food behavior; health-related habits;