Distance from the nearest grocery stores and frequency of store-specific shopping are associated with dietary intake frequency among the community-dwelling independent elderly population.

Background: Low accessibility to grocery stores may change dietary habits and increase health problems for elderly people living in communities.

Aim: This study investigated whether the distance from the nearest grocery stores, including supermarkets, convenience stores, and drugstores, and the frequency of store-specific shopping were associated with dietary intake frequency among elderly people.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two towns of suburban cities. A total of 177 people aged ≥65 years were recruited ( =76.7 years). The frequency of intake of 10 food groups and dietary variety scores (DVS) were evaluated. Distances from the districts to the nearest grocery stores and the frequency of shopping during a week at each store were evaluated using a geographic information system.

Results: For supermarkets, people living <300 metres from the nearest supermarket showed a higher intake frequency of fruit (=0.024) and oil/fat (=0.045), and those shopping three or more times a week showed a higher intake frequency of meat (=0.025). In the case of drugstores, people shopping one or more times a week showed a higher intake frequency of eggs (=0.006) and oil/fat (=0.048). People living <300 m from the nearest supermarkets (=0.048) and drugstores (=0.047) showed higher DVS than those living ≥500 m from the nearest supermarkets and drugstores.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that shopping at supermarkets and drugstores is associated with dietary intake frequency and dietary quality for elderly people living in suburban cities.