The nutritional knowledge among the elderly and their attitude towards diet is influenced by various physiological, sociodemographic, and economic factors. In our research we identified how these factors affect the nutritional status of older adults in the Republic of Slovenia. We conducted a survey with 163 elderly individuals, older than 50 years, gathering data on their nutritional knowledge, attitudes towards diet, and the impact of these factors on their nutritional status. The survey was conducted among functionally independent seniors who do not live in elderly care homes, which was crucial for data analysis. From the perspective of promoting a healthy diet and potential dietary interventions, it is important to examine the characteristics of functionally independent seniors and develop programs and activities tailored to this group. Based on the conducted research, we found that poor nutritional status among the elderly is a result of a lack of physical activity, nutritional knowledge or little interest in the topic of diet, coupled with a negative attitude towards diet. We estimate that older adults show insufficient interest in the field of nutrition, which is crucial for maintaining overall health and preventing diseases in a limited lifespan. Through statistical analysis, we have demonstrated that an individual's level of education is one of the most significant factors influencing their current nutritional knowledge (p=0,049). By designing and implementing various forms of informal education, we could better inform our respondents about the importance of nutrition for health, motivating them to follow a healthy diet and lifestyle, point of view towards nutrition, which would significantly contribute to maintaining independent life even in old age.
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