Evaluation of food intake based on a “Healthy Eating Index” (HEI-EPIC)

Anne von Rüsten, Anne-Kathrin Illner, Heiner Boeing, Potsdam-Rehbrücke und Maria Flothkötter, Bonn

This analysis is based on FFQ-dietary data from 5 465 elderly participants in the EPIC-Potsdam-study. The intake and the number of consumed portions of 8 food groups were calculated. A Healthy Eating Index was generated with the food groups as components.

The HEI-EPIC compares the consumed portions of the 8 food groups with national recommendations, in order to evaluate the quality of nutrition as “good”, “needs improvement” or “poor”. The diet quality of 26 % of the participants was evaluated as “good”, whereas 72 % were classified as “needs improvement” and 2% as “poor”. The mean HEI-EPIC score was 59.8 for women and 54.9 for men. The best scores were achieved for fruit. Subjects were most likely to do poorly in the vegetable category and in the meat, sausages, fish and egg category. The HEI-EPIC seems to be an appropriate tool for assessment of the nutritional quality of the diet.

Keywords: Nutritional status, food intake, elderly, diet indices

Sie finden den Artikel in deutscher Sprache in Ernährungs Umschau 08/09 auf Seite 450.

Das könnte Sie interessieren
Wie wär’s mal mit mehr Ehrlichkeit? weiter
Der Bildungsort Esstisch weiter
Politische Weichenstellung: Der VDD im Dialog mit der Politik und Stakeholdern weiter
Gesund aufwachsen? Gesund alt werden? Ernährungsarmut verhindert beides! weiter
Malnutrition Awareness Week 2025 – Gemeinsam gegen Mangelernährung weiter
© wildpixel/iStock/Getty Images Plus
Handlungsstrategien für herausfordernde Beratungssituation weiter