A survey of how dietary patterns and living habits were related to individual health status was undertaken amongst the elderly in Jeon-ju the results were analyzed in order to collect information which would be useful in preventing chronic diseases and promoting health in the general population. Two hundred and thirty elderly people, 73 min (31.7%) and 157 women (68.3%) from the colleges and households in the Jeon-ju area, were studied in truly and August, 1999. Average scores for men and women, respectively, in nutrition-related questions were as follows: 4.98 $pm$ 0.24 and 5.24 $pm$ 0.13 in a nutrition knowledge test (maximum score= 10), 25.92 $pm$ 0.39 and 26.04 $pm$ 0.26 for nutrition attitudes (maximum=50), and 11.25 $pm$ 0.15 and 10.70 $pm$ 0.12 for dietary habits (maximum= 15). The percentages of smokers and drinkers in the sample were 23.3% and 31.5% among men, and 3.2% and 10.8% among women, respectively, while those who took regular exercise were 67.1% among men and 34.8% among women. Average scores of clinical symptoms for men and women were 27.62 $pm$ 0.62 and 33.36 $pm$ 0.47, respectively. Analysis was carried out on the effects of individual dietary patterns and lifestyles on current health status in a healthy group (below the 25 percentile in clinical symptom scores) and an unhealthy group (above the 75 percentile in clinical symptom scores). The results show that the healthy elderly group had relatively good nutrition knowledge, nutrition attitudes, and dietary patterns, ate with family, took nutrition supplements and snacks, and did not smoke. The most healthy group ate out once a month, drank small quantities of alcohol occasionally, and exercised once or twice a week. We believe that the results of this study will be helpful in developing or coordinating plans or programs f)r improving the health of elderly people.