[Engel's coefficient and dietary quality in Argentine households inhabited by older adults (2004-2018)]. / Coeficiente de Engel y calidad dietaria en hogares argentinos habitados por adultos mayores (2004-2018).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To determine if there were alterations in the proportion of spending that Argentine households of older adults spend on the purchase of food (Engel's coefficient) and other goods and services, as well as to evaluate the dietary quality of the members of these households. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From the last three waves of the National Household Expenditure Survey (2004-2005, 2012-2013 and 2017-2018) those households in the province of Buenos Aires inhabited by older adults are filtered and carried out. Median difference tests for the proportion of spending these households spend on food and other goods and services. In turn, the per capita quantities acquired from 17 food groups are compared with the quantities recommended in the dietary guidelines for the Argentine population. RESULTS: A statistically significant reduction is found in the median of the proportion of spending that older adults in the province of Buenos Aires spend on the purchase of food, in combination with a statistically significant increase in the proportion of spending directed to equipment and operation home, education and various services. However, the amounts purchased of milk and yogurt and vegetables A and B are insufficient in relation to those recommended, while the consumption of meat is excessive. CONCLUSIONS: Although economic theory would interpret a reduction in the Engel coefficient as an indication of improved well-being, it should be taken into account that these households might not be following an optimal diet if they consumed the amounts of food that they claim to buy.

Canasta básica alimentaria para la persona mayor en Argentina / Basic food basket for the elderly in Argentina

FUNDAMENTOS: En Argentina existe una canasta básica alimentaria que se valoriza mensualmente para medir pobreza por insuficiencia de ingresos. Dicha canasta no contempla adecuadamente los requerimientos nutricionales de las personas mayores. El objetivo del artículo es proponer una canasta alimentaria básica para distintos perfiles de personas mayores. MÉTODOS: Se definen los valores energéticos para hombres y mujeres de la tercera y cuarta edad. Se identifican los grupos de alimentos necesarios según recomendación de expertos. Se seleccionan los alimentos a incorporar en cada grupo según el patrón de consumo de las personas mayores en Argentina. Se determinan los valores monetarios en base al índice de precios al consumidor (IPC) online. RESULTADOS: En octubre de 2018 el costo de la canasta básica alimentaria para las personas mayores fue en promedio de USD 83,34. Este valor es superior al estimado por el Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas y Censos de la República Argentina (INDEC). Las personas mayores beneficiarias de la pensión universal debieron destinar en promedio el 42% de la misma a cubrir las necesidades alimentarias. CONCLUSIONES: Se propone una metodología para obtener y valorizar una canasta básica alimentaria ajustada a los requerimientos nutricionales de las personas mayores en Argentina. Esta permite estimar los ingresos mínimos necesarios para que las personas mayores no sean consideradas indigentes

BACKGROUND: In Argentina, there is a basic food basket that is valued monthly to measure poverty due to insufficient income. This basket does not adequately cover the nutritional requirements of the elderly. The objective of the articleis to propose a basic food basket for different profiles of older adults. METHODS: Caloric values are defined for men and women of the third and fourth age. The necessary food groups are identified according to experts' recommendations. The foods to be incorporated in each group are selected according to the pattern of consumption of the elderly in Argentina. Monetary values are determined based on the IPC online price index. RESULTS: In October 2018, the cost of the basic food basket for the elderly was, on average, USD 83.34. This value is higher than the one estimated by the INDEC. The elderly beneficiaries of the universal pension had to allocate an average of 42% of it to cover the food needs. CONCLUSIONS: A methodology is proposed to obtain and value a basic food basket adjusted to the nutritional requirements of the elderly in Argentina. This allows estimating the minimum income necessary so that the elderly are not considered indigents