Metabolic

Can Eating Alone Be Bad For Your Heart? – ScienceDaily

As women get older, their risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) exceeds that of men mainly due to decreased levels of estrogen, which regulates vascular function. As a result, a lot of research is focused on different risk factors. A new study suggests that eating alone may contribute to an increased risk of heart disease in older women. The study results are published online today in Menopause, the journal of the North American Menopause Society (NAMS).

As part of the overall effort to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease, awareness of healthy eating habits has grown; However, the importance of an eating companion has been largely overlooked in previous studies. Recent changes in society have resulted in more people eating alone than ever. One of the main reasons is the increase in the number of single-person households. Social distancing protocols introduced in response to the COVID19 pandemic have further restricted eating meals with others. In addition, mobile platforms for food delivery services are becoming increasingly popular, which motivates people to eat alone.

As more people eat alone, health concerns have been raised. A previous study reported that a higher frequency of eating alone was linked to a higher risk of abdominal obesity and high blood pressure. When people eat alone, people tend to eat faster, which often leads to increases in body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, and blood lipid levels, all of which increase the risk of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease can.

Eating alone can also affect mental health and has been described as a risk factor for depression, which is also linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Although these results suggest that eating alone is a risk factor for CVD in older women, few studies have examined the association between eating alone and the prevalence of CVD. The researchers in this study, which included nearly 600 menopausal women over 65, tried to compare health behavior and nutritional status between older women who eat alone and those who eat with others, and the association between eating alone and to examine the prevalence of CVD and its risk factors for older women.

Based on the results of this study, the researchers concluded that older women who ate alone had poorer nutritional knowledge and intake. In particular, it was found that older women who ate alone had lower intake of energy, carbohydrates, fiber, sodium, and potassium than those who ate with others. In addition, older women who eat alone were 2.58 times more likely to have angina, a type of chest pain caused by decreased blood flow to the heart and a symptom of coronary artery disease. These results suggest the value of nutritional education and cardiovascular screening for older women who mainly eat alone.

The study results are published in the article “Association between eating alone and cardiovascular disease in older women: a cross-sectional study on KNHANES 2016 data”.

“This study shows that older women who eat alone are more likely to have symptomatic heart disease. They are also more likely to be widowed and have lower incomes and poorer food intake. These results are not surprising given the lower socioeconomic status and social isolation. ”Contribute to lower quality of life, higher rates of depression and poorer health. Given that women live longer than men, finding ways for older women who are socially isolated to engage and make meaningful social bonds can not only improve their diet, but also their overall health while lowering the levels of health Health care costs, “says Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director of NAMS.

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Materials provided by The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). Note: The content can be edited in terms of style and length.

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