University of California, Los Angeles
The goal of this observational study is to learn about dietary quality and barriers to healthy eating among older adults who participate in the Los Angeles County Food Rx Produce Distribution Program. The study will also evaluate whether a newer dietary assessment tool, the Global Diet Quality Questionnaire (GDQQ), performs similarly to an established dietary assessment tool, the Mediterranean Diet Scale (PREDIMED MDS), in measuring diet quality among adults aged 60 years and older. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Is the GDQQ associated with diet quality scores measured by the PREDIMED Mediterranean Diet Scale? * Does the GDQQ predict self-reported body mass index (BMI) as well as or better than the PREDIMED Mediterranean Diet Scale? * What barriers and facilitators influence healthy eating and participation in produce distribution programs among older adults? Participants will: * Complete questionnaires about their dietary habits, demographic characteristics, and food access experiences. * Complete two dietary quality assessment tools: the PREDIMED Mediterranean Diet Scale and the Global Diet Quality Questionnaire. * If randomly selected, participate in a one-time semi-structured interview to discuss healthy eating, food access, experiences with produce distribution events, and challenges to improving dietary quality.
Poor dietary quality is a major contributor to chronic disease risk among older adults and is associated with age-related conditions including obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cognitive decline, and chronic inflammation. Older adults experiencing food insecurity often face additional barriers to healthy eating, including limited access to nutritious foods, language and literacy challenges, unfamiliarity with available produce, and logistical barriers to participating in food assistance programs. Understanding these barriers is critical for developing culturally relevant and su…
Inclusion Criteria: * Participants eligible for enrollment in either the survey or interview component must meet the following criteria: * Be 60 years of age or older * Be a regular attendee (i.e., more than one visit) at L.A. County Food Rx produce distribution events * Be able to communicate in English or Spanish, as these are the languages in which study materials and interviews are available * Be able to provide informed consent and complete the brief study activities These criteria reflect the study's focus on older adults at increased risk for chronic disease due to food insecu…