Influence of multigenerational and living-alone households on high fat, sugar or sodium (HFSS) food consumption pattern in aging population

Objectives: To investigate the correlation between household composition and consumption of different groups of high fat, sugar or sodium (HFSS) among older persons in Thailand.

Study design: This study used cross-sectional data from the 2021 population-based survey called the Health Behavior of Population Survey.

Methods: Data from this study were drawn from 39,384 sampled Thai older persons age 60 years or over. A food frequency questionnaire was used to collect information about frequency of HFSS food consumption, household composition, and socio-demographic characteristics. Binary logistic regression was performed to investigate correlations between household composition and food consumption.

Results: More than three in five older Thais lived in a multigenerational home. The probabilities of consuming high-fat food, fast food, and snacks among older persons who lived with working-age person(s) and child(ren)/adolescents were much higher than for those living alone. Older persons who lived alone had the highest probability of consuming instant food, compared with other types of household composition. Participants who lived with child(ren)/adolescents only or with working-age person(s) only (p ≤ 0.01) and child(ren)/adolescents only (p ≤ 0.001) were more likely to consume sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB).

Conclusions: The findings point to life course interventions to discourage HFSS consumption across generations. Social interventions and public policy aiming at increasing intergenerational interactions could be beneficial for healthier diets for not only older persons but also across generations.