Kovács, Nóra and Biro, Eva and Pikó, Péter and Ungvári, Zoltán István and Ádány, Róza (2025) Attitudes towards healthy eating and its determinants among older adults in a deprived region of Hungary: implications for the National Healthy Aging Program. GEROSCIENCE: OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN AGING ASSOCIATION (AGE), 47. pp. 5695-5707. ISSN 2509-2715 (In Press)
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Abstract
A healthy diet is a key determinant of successful aging. However, the psychological, social, and physiological changes associated with ageing often disrupt dietary behaviours. Hungary has one of the highest rates of chronic age-related diseases in the European Union, exacerbated by unhealthy dietary patterns and rapid population aging. This study evaluates attitudes and barriers to healthy eating among older adults in a socioeconomically disadvantaged region of Hungary, identifying determinants of these attitudes across different age groups. A cross-sectional survey sampled 678 adults aged 18 and older from Northeast Hungary, assessing their beliefs on healthy eating through an attitude score (range: 9-45). Multivariate regression analyses were conducted to explore relationships between mental health, self-perceived health, and attitudes toward healthy eating. The mean attitude score was 31.47 (+/- 5.14), with older adults (>= 65 years) showing significantly greater uncertainty about dietary choices. The cost of healthy food was the most frequently reported barrier, regardless of age. Regression results revealed that older adults with higher well-being (B = 0.03, p = 0.026), life satisfaction (B = 0.40, p = 0.005), and self-perceived health (fair: B = 2.20, p = 0.003; good/very good: B = 1.96, p = 0.031) were more likely to have positive attitudes toward healthy eating. These results emphasize the importance of addressing both mental and physical health in educational interventions to promote healthier diets. Tailored approaches addressing affordability and accessibility of healthy foods are critical to advancing Hungary's National Healthy Aging Program and mitigating dietary risk factors among vulnerable populations.
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| Additional Information: | Funding Agency and Grant Number: Semmelweis University; European Regional Development Fund [GINOP-2.3.2-15-2016-00005]; Hungarian Academy of Sciences [TK2016-78]; Hungarian Research Network-HUN-REN [TKCS-2021/32]; National Research, Development, and Innovation Fund of Hungary [135784]; National Laboratory for Health Security Hungary [RRF-2.3.1-21- 2022-00006]; National Cardiovascular Laboratory Program - National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NKFIH) [RRF-2.3.1-21-2022-00003]; Ministry of Innovation and Technology of Hungary from the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund [TKP2021-NKTA-47]; Janos Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences [BO/00513/23/5, BO/00933/22/5]; University Research Scholarship Program of the Ministry for Culture and Innovation from the source of the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund [EKOEP-24-4] Funding text: Open access funding provided by Semmelweis University. This project was co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (GINOP-2.3.2-15-2016-00005), the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (TK2016-78) and the Hungarian Research Network-HUN-REN (TKCS-2021/32). Project No. 135784 has also been implemented with the support of the National Research, Development, and Innovation Fund of Hungary, financed under the K_20 programme. Authors, including P.P. and R.A. also work as team members of the National Laboratory for Health Security Hungary (RRF-2.3.1-21- 2022-00006) and the National Cardiovascular Laboratory Program (RRF-2.3.1-21-2022-00003) supported by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NKFIH). Project no. TKP2021-NKTA-47 has been implemented with the support provided by the Ministry of Innovation and Technology of Hungary from the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund, financed under the TKP2021-NKTA funding scheme. P.P. and E.B. were supported by the Janos Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (BO/00513/23/5 and BO/00933/22/5). N.K. was supported by the EKOEP-24-4 University Research Scholarship Program of the Ministry for Culture and Innovation from the source of the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund. |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | BEHAVIOR; NUTRITION; VALIDITY; BARRIERS; FOOD; mental health; attitude; LIFE-STYLE; healthy eating; |
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences / társadalomtudományok > H Social Sciences (General) / társadalomtudomány általában R Medicine / orvostudomány > R1 Medicine (General) / orvostudomány általában |
| SWORD Depositor: | MTMT SWORD |
| Depositing User: | MTMT SWORD |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Sep 2025 13:17 |
| Last Modified: | 10 Sep 2025 13:17 |
| URI: | https://real.mtak.hu/id/eprint/223921 |
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