Topic: Health

A study of over 8,300 older adults in Brazil found that men are more likely to add salt to their food than women. The habit varies among different groups and is influenced by factors like diet and lifestyle.

Adding salt to food has been a common practice for thousands of years. While it's still used today, consuming too much salt can lead to serious health problems. To reduce these risks, the World Health Organization recommends that adults consume no more than five grams of salt per day.

A recent study published in Frontiers in Public Health aimed to understand who is most likely to add extra salt to their food among older adults in Brazil. The researchers analyzed survey data from over 8,300 Brazilians aged 60 and older. Participants reported everything they had eaten and drunk during the previous 24 hours and answered whether they routinely added salt to food at the table.

The results showed that 12.7% of men reported adding extra salt to their meals, compared with 9.4% of women. However, the factors linked to this habit differed significantly between the sexes. Among men, only two factors were significantly connected to adding extra salt: following a special diet to manage high blood pressure and living alone.

Among women, the odds of adding salt to food at the table was higher among those not following a diet for high blood pressure, who frequently consumed ultra-processed foods, lived in urban areas, or did not regularly eat fruits or vegetables.

The researchers emphasized that the study does not establish cause-and-effect relationships. Because participants self-reported their habits, some responses may have been inaccurate. The authors also noted that salt-use patterns may have changed since the surveys were conducted.

Why It Matters

Understanding who is most likely to add extra salt to their food can help public health campaigns in Brazil promote healthier eating habits and reduce the burden of chronic noncommunicable diseases among older adults.

Key Facts

• Over 8,300 older adults in Brazil were surveyed about their salt-adding habits.
• Men are more likely to add extra salt to their food than women (12.7% vs. 9.4%).
• Among men, following a special diet to manage high blood pressure and living alone were associated with adding extra salt.
• Among women, not following a diet for high blood pressure, frequently consuming ultra-processed foods, living in urban areas, or not regularly eating fruits or vegetables were linked to adding extra salt.

Key Terms

Ultra-processed foods

Foods that have been processed and contain little to no whole ingredients.

Implications

Understanding who is most likely to add extra salt to their food can help public health campaigns in Brazil promote healthier eating habits and reduce the burden of chronic noncommunicable diseases among older adults.