NUTRITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND FOOD INTAKE OF RETIREES IN EPE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, LAGOS STATE

This study focused on nutritional knowledge and food intake of retirees in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State. Four research questions guided the study. Cross-sectional descriptive survey research design was adopted using 100 retirees aged 60 to 70 years. Structured questionnaire was used to elicit data from the retirees. Data was analyzed using percentages, mean, standard deviation and Person (r). Results from the study indicated that the retirees possessed very high knowledge of nutrition for healthy ageing (71.8%). only 15.08% of the subjects consume foods from the seven food groups daily and met the criteria for adequate diet. Dietary intake of 35.0% of the subjects had rating of fair quality since their diets were mostly foods from five out of the seven food groups on daily basis. Financial status, physical diseases, high food prices and lack of appetite influenced the retiree’s food intake. Majority (72.3%) of the retirees ate three times a day with about 27.7% eating less than three meals daily. Also, there is a weak positive relationship (r=.410) between retirees’ nutritional knowledge and food intake. The study established a less adequate intake of protein and fruits among the retirees despite their high knowledge of nutrition. There is need for the establishment of a functional policy on the care of older adults in Nigeria in order to enhance their nutritional and health status as well as their general well-being.