Dietary Diversity and Healthy Aging among Geriatric Population of an Urban Area of Bengaluru – A Cross-sectional Study
Amrita N. Shamanewadi, Nithya Madathiparambil Chandran, Bhavana GangadaraAbstract
Introduction:
Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) serves as a key index reflecting nutrient adequacy, a fundamental component of healthy aging. While extensive literature supports the positive effect of high dietary diversity on specific health outcomes, evidence linking DDS directly to the overall composite Healthy Aging Score (HAS) remains scarce. This study aimed to estimate DDS and determine its association with HAS among geriatric individuals in an urban area of Bangalore.
Materials and Methods:
This cross-sectional study included 180 geriatric individuals from an urban field practice area of a tertiary care hospital. DDS was classified as Low (3), Medium (4–5), or High (6) food groups. HAS, assessed using a validated questionnaire (0–46 points), was categorized into Poor, Fair, or Good. The primary analytical method used to explore the association between DDS and HAS been the Chi-square test.
Results:
Most participants (70.6%) exhibited high dietary diversity, and 36.1% achieved “good” healthy aging scores. No statistically significant direct association was found between dietary diversity and healthy aging. However, high dietary diversity was significantly associated with regular exercise, not smoking, and effective chronic disease management. Furthermore, higher education, professional employment, and Public Distribution System (PDS) utilization were significantly linked to good healthy aging outcomes.
Conclusion:
While a direct correlation between dietary diversity and composite healthy aging scores was not established likely due to high baseline diversity in this urban cohort lifestyle factors and socioeconomic security remain critical health determinants. Future longitudinal research is needed to evaluate how sustained dietary patterns influence long-term aging outcomes.