Solo Dining Linked to Heart Disease

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The literature Association Between Eating Alone and Cardiovascular Diseases in Elderly Women: A Cross-Sectional Study of KNHANES found that older women who eat more than two meals a day by themselves were more likely to experience heart disease. Cardiovascular diseases are responsible for 31% of total deaths worldwide. Around the onset of menopause in women, the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases drastically increases. Older women are more susceptible to cardiovascular diseases due to aging-related decline in cardiovascular functions.

The research analyzed 590 menopausal women aged 65 years and older. Participants who ate more than two meals a day alone were assigned to an eating-alone (EA) group and those who ate more than two meals a day with others were assigned to an eating-with-others (EO) group. Awareness of nutrition labels, using nutrition labels, and impact of nutrition labels were lower in the EA group compared to the EO group. The intake of energy, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, sodium, and potassium was found to be lower in the EA group than in the EO group. Older women who ate alone were 2.58 times more likely to experience angina than those who ate with others.

So what does all this mean?

Eating alone is associated with higher risks of abdominal obesity, elevated blood pressure, and additional chronic conditions. Researchers suggest cardiovascular screening and nutrition education be considered for elderly men and women to mitigate health risks associated with eating alone. Senior centers, inviting neighbors/family members over for meals, and eating in different locations are solutions to the health risks posed.

References

Bilodeau, K. (2022). Regular solo dining may be linked to a higher risk of heart disease. Harvard Health

Choi, H.-G., Kim, H.-J., & Kang, S.-J. (2021). Association between eating alone and cardiovascular diseases in elderly women: a cross-sectional study of KNHANES 2016 data. Menopause (New York, N.Y.), 29(1), 82–88. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000001887