A Study on the Intake Patterns of Health Food of the Elderly Aged over 60 Years in the Chuncheon Area

Rhee, Hee Seoup; Lee, Hai Sook; Yee, Jung Ae; Kang, Keum Jee

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the intake patterns of health food according to the kind of disease of the elderly aged over 60 years living in the Chuncheon area. This study was conducted by using a questionnaire from December 1999 to the March 2000. The data was analyzed using a SPSS program. The results were summarized as follows : The poorer the self-perceived health condition, the lower the level of activity of daily living(ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living(IADL) were the higher. the frequency score of health food intake. The incidence of disease, such as arthritis(44.7%), hypertension(18.8%), digestive diseases(17.1%), diabetes(10.5%) were found to be higher. than other chronic diseases among the elderly. The frequency score of health food intake was not significantly different according to self-perceived health status, disease status, or the level of ADL and IADl.. The must important source of information for health food intake was the recommendation of friends and relatives(68.7%). Twenty eight point two percent of the elderly considered health foods to be effective, however 8.3% of the elderly considered them to be ineffective. The elderly with chronic diseases had taken health floods in the descending order of neuralgia-arthritis, hypertension, digestive disease, diabetes. The elderly with digestive diseases, diabetes, renal disease, neuralgia-arthritis and respiratory disease were inclined to habitually take health floods once or twice per year. Intake of Korean traditional folk food was as high as intake of registered health food and Chinese tonic medicine. The most frequently taken health food was tonic medicine, which is fo11owed by pumpkin, ginseng products, herbal tea formula with black goat, deer antler and Kye-so-ju. Intakes of health food such as tonic medicine, blood of the deer, royal jelly, aloe were found to be higher among the elderly with chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and digestive disease. However, intakes of ginseng products, deer antler, pumpkin, herbal tea formula with black goat and Kye-so-ju were found to be higher among the healthy elderly. The elderly with neuralgia-arthritis had taken sixteen kinds of health foods. From these results, a wide consumer education program should be developed to convince people of the importance of well-balanced diet and to choose proper health foods according to the elderly's health conditions. Also, comprehensive and scientific research into Korean traditional folk foods are needed for the correct use.