Determinants of eating habits among pre-retired and post-retired Mauritians

The aging population (60 years and above) is becoming a global phenomenon and so is in Mauritius and over the last 4 years there has been an increase of 20.4%. There is an inadequate nutrition-related data among the older adults in Mauritius and in addition the factors influencing eating habits warrant investigation. This study aimed to understand how socioeconomic factors (income level and employment status), physical activity level, body mass index, nutritional knowledge is associated with eating habits of pre-retired and post-retired Mauritians. A survey based questionnaire was used to elicit information of the various factors. Chi square test, Independent sample t-test, One-way variance analysis and Pearson correlation were the main statistical tests used to determine relationship between eating habits and the different factors. Healthy food items were more frequently consumed by high income earners as compared to low income earners. Similarly, post-retired participants and those having high physical activity level consumed healthy food items more frequently. Low physical activity level was associated with high consumption rate of fast food and low intake of fruits and vegetables. There was also positive influence of nutritional knowledge on eating habits. Income level, employment status, physical activity level and nutritional knowledge have a great impact on the eating habits whereas no relation was found between eating habits and body mass index.