The role of social integration in the consumption of fruit and vegetables among the elderly

This study investigates the extent to which aspects of the social integration of the elderly are linked to higher levels of fruit and vegetable consumption. It involved a cross-sectional study based on data from the National Study of Dependency in the Elderly, with a sample of 3278 elderly individuals. The variables of social integration considered were: frequency of meeting with close relatives, other relatives and neighbors and friends in the last 12 months; participation in recreational activities and in community groups, in addition to housing arrangements and marital status. The number of servings of fruit and vegetables consumed per day was the dependent variable. Logistic regression analysis was then conducted. In the adjusted model, more frequent encounters with siblings, in-laws and nephews, participation in community groups or organizations, are factors that increase the possibility of consuming two or more servings of fruit and vegetables a day, versus 1 serving or none; the opposite was observed when living alone. The variables of social integration that can increase the possibility of attaining the recommendation of consumption of fruit and vegetables daily (5 or more) in the adjusted model are frequency of encounters with siblings, in-laws and nephews and living alone.