The Relationships Between Food Group Consumption, Self-Rated Health, and Life Satisfaction of Community-Dwelling Canadian Older Men: The Manitoba Follow-Up Study

Abstract

We conducted a cross-sectional evaluation nested within a long-term cohort study that was designed to examine the relationship between frequency of food group consumption (FGC), self-rated health, and life satisfaction of community-dwelling older men in the Manitoba Follow-up Study. Questionnaires returned from 1,211 Canadian male participants contained frequency of FGC (daily, most days, or rarely), self-reported nutrition, and health-related perceptions. Men consuming vegetables/fruit (V&F) daily versus rarely were four times more likely to report better self-rated health OR = 4.00 (95%CI = 1.31, 12.3) and three times more likely to rate greater life satisfaction OR = 3.08 (95%CI = 1.00, 9.45). Our findings indicate that frequent consumption of V&F is associated with the perception of better health and greater life satisfaction.

KEYWORDS:

• community
• food group consumption
• life satisfaction
• older men
• self-rated health

Notes

∗Mean ± Standard Deviation; % = percentage of all participants.

†Eastern Canada = Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and New Brunswick; Western Canada = British Columbia; Central Canada = Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

‡Respondents selected more than one category.

The Manitoba Follow-up Study is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Manitoba Health Research Council.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Amy K. Obirek Blatz

Amy K. Obirek Blatz graduated from the Department of Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, with a BSc in Nutrition in May 2007.