Hábitos alimentares da população idosa: padrões de compra e consumo

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the behavior of food intake among the elderly in SE Brazil. More specifically, we sought to identify the profile of the elderly consumer and evaluate the context-situational behavior and food consumption of the elderly. The Model Gains was adapted in this research to make the analysis of the behavior of elderly people as consumers, considering three categories: food, individual and environment. The sample consisted of 115 elderly consumers. Data were collected through a survey and analyzed through the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 15.0. For data analysis, descriptive statistics were used and for inferential results the analysis of variance (ANOVA) was done. Results showed that elderly shop for their basic food in supermarkets, because these offer a diversity of food products. There is a trend for the female elderly population. It was also observed that the price of food and nutritional quality attributes are considered important at the time of purchase. In addition, over half of the respondents have an increasing concern in respect to their health and the practice of physical activities regularly. Although the results here can not be extended to the entire population, it is noteworthy that they allow marketers to understand how elderly consumers interviewed a group of people who should be considered and observed especially since they have a pattern and consumption habits specific.