<jats:p>Abstract Objective: to determine the dietary patterns of elderly persons in terms of sociodemographic, lifestyle and clinical aspects. Method: a cross-sectional study was conducted using the cohorts of the SABE (Health, Wellbeing and Aging) study. An epidemiological, home-based study representative of the city of São Paulo was carried out. The population of this study included 1,304 elderly persons (≥60 years), of both genders, selected by probabilistic stratified sampling, interviewed in 2010. Food intake data were obtained through a qualitative food frequency questionnaire. Dietary patterns were determined by exploratory factorial analysis by principal components. The Wald test was used for complex sampling. Results: four dietary patterns were identified: inadequate patterns, consisting of fried and canned food, sausages, sweets, tubers, industrialized sauces and eggs; modified pattern, skimmed milk, whole grain breads and cereals, light/diet/zero foods; beneficial pattern, fruits, vegetables and tubers; and traditional Brazilian pattern, vegetable oils, rice, refined cereals and white bread, meats and legumes (beans). The sociodemographic and lifestyle profile of the elderly persons who adopted each dietary pattern was different. Conclusion: healthier dietary patterns were associated with the female gender, older elderly persons, two or more chronic diseases, higher levels of schooling, a better lifestyle and a better self-perception of health. It is important to consider all these aspects as they are determinant in the type of diet adopted by this population.</jats:p>
