Diet Patterns and Nutritional Determinants of Healthy Ageing among Thai Community -Dwelling Older Adults
Keywords:
Healthy Ageing, Nutritional Determinants, Dietary PatternsAbstract
Introduction: Thailand and countries worldwide are transitioning into a complete aged society, presenting significant public health and societal challenges in ensuring effective elderly care and preventing malnutrition.
Objective: To analyze the interactions among social, nutritional, and behavioral factors associated with healthy ageing, and to identify prototype clusters and describe the consumption patterns of Thai elderly individuals achieving healthy ageing using
the Positive Deviance (PD) framework.
Methods: This mixed-methods study recruited 265 older adults from five Thai longevity model districts. Healthy ageing was defined by functional ability, absence of frailty and comorbidities (Charlson Comorbidity Index = 0), happiness, and social support. Analyses included complex sample logistic regression, Two-Step Cluster Analysis, and qualitative dietary assessment.
Results: The prevalence of healthy ageing was 67.7%. Significant factors associated with healthy ageing included the absence of hypertension (AOR = 2.53; 95% CI: 1.20–5.35), absence of oral health problems (AOR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.11–2.38), and good nutritional behaviors (AOR = 2.30; 95% CI: 1.57–3.35). Latent class analysis identified four clusters; the group with strong social participation, family living, sufficient income, and healthy diets had the highest prevalence (82.8%). Qualitative findings indicated that dietary patterns for healthy ageing emphasized home-cooked meals using natural ingredients, local vegetables, and fish, while avoiding processed foods and alcohol.
Conclusion: Healthy ageing among Thai older adults is linked to nutritional behaviors, oral health, and social capital. Integrated community-based health promotion, oral health services, and adherence to the Thai Food-Based Dietary Guidelines are essential for reducing health disparities and promoting health equity.
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