Abstract
Prior literature has repeatedly documented the influence of dietary behaviors on older adults’ health. Nonetheless, there is hardly comprehensive temporal model for understanding the time and cohort variations on oldest old’s health due to fruits and vegetable (FV) consumption. This study aimed to fill the voids of prior literature by studying Chinese oldest old through analyzing data from eight (1998, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011-12, 2014 and 2018) waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Health was measured by self-rated health (SRH), cognitive function and subjective wellbeing. The results showed a higher percentage of Chinese oldest old who frequently consumed vegetables than fresh fruits. Frequent FV consumers showed better predicted SRH, cognitive function and subjective wellbeing. Regarding period effects, except for years 2008 to 2011, a general increasing trend was found in fresh fruit consumption, but percentages of oldest old who frequently consumed vegetables stayed stable. Oldest old’s cognitive function and subjective wellbeing showed rising trends over time. Period effects were also found in times of economic recessions and natural disasters by showing a significant drop in oldest old’s positive feeling scores. The study emphasized strong period effects and underscored FV consumption in preventing oldest old’s cognitive function decline and promoting their subjective wellbeing.