Ageing and Loneliness in Catalonia: The Social Dimension of Food Behaviour

Abstract

This article focuses on the relationship between the following three concepts: aging, loneliness and food. Our analytical and methodological proposal aims to understand the experience of loneliness encountered by people over 64 living in Barcelona, through thedescription and analysis of food and its practice; that is, all those aspects (in)directly related to food practice. Though our analysis is focused on food, we will stress the social--rather than nutritional---dimensions of food behavior. Thus our point of departure is the organic relationship established between food, society and culture (Contreras, 1995).