Dinner table habit linked to poorer diet and health risks in adults over 60

A Brazilian study of more than 8,000 people aged 60 and over found about 10.9% reported adding salt at the table, with men more likely than women to do so; the habit was associated with dietary patterns linked to higher health risks, researchers reported.

Recent Brazilian research published in Frontiers in Public Health examined whether older adults habitually add salt at the table and how that habit relates to other behaviors. The study used national survey data collected in 2017–2018 from more than 8,000 Brazilians aged 60 and older. Participants were asked if they had the habit of adding salt to food at the table, and researchers analyzed demographic and dietary traits associated with that response. The researchers noted the analysis is observational and based on self-reported information. Key findings: - About 10.9% of adults over 60 reported adding salt at the table; the study reported 12.7% for men and 9.4% for women. - Men who lived alone and men not following a diet for high blood pressure were more likely to add salt at the table. - Among women, not eating fruit or vegetables and a higher share of ultraprocessed foods in the diet were linked to greater odds of adding salt; urban residence was also associated. - The authors described the study as cross-sectional and self-reported; the World Health Organization is cited on links between high sodium diets, raised blood pressure and several health risks, and recommends under 5 grams of salt per day. Summary: The study describes an association between the habit of adding salt at the table and other dietary and demographic traits among Brazilians aged 60 and older, with differences by sex and living situation. The researchers noted limits of observational, self-reported data and placed the findings in the context of known risks tied to high sodium intake. Researchers proposed alternatives and practical measures to reduce discretionary salt use, and public health actions were undetermined at this time.