Senior nutrition
DefinitionSenior nutrition addresses the special dietary
requirements of the elderly. Although wise food choices
and a balanced diet are essential for older adults to
maintain a healthy lifestyle and to promote longevity,
there are various obstacles that prevent or limit seniors
from practicing and benefiting from good eating
habits. Such obstacles include loneliness, depression,
economic concerns, lack of cooking skills or desire to
cook, inadequate nutritional knowledge, reduced
capacity to absorb and utilize nutrients, oral/dental
problems and difficulty in chewing, loss of appetite,
and eating/nutrient complications due to the use of
various medications. In addition, older adults need
certainvitaminsand nutrients to aid in the mainte-
nance of their health.DescriptionHealthy eating and regular physical activity are nec-
essary to maintain good health at any age. However,
older persons, especially after the age of 50, often experi-
ence various obstacles that prevent them from following
healthy diets. They experience reductions inmetabolism
(the rate at which the body burns energy) and changes in
physiology that significantly affect their nutritional needs.
The metabolic rate of an individual can decline as much
as 30% over the lifetime, and lean muscle mass can
decrease by as much as 25%, accompanied by an increase
in body fat. These changes often require the use of lower
calorie diets as well as changes in nutritional intake.
The United States population is rapidly aging. By
2030, the number of Americans aged 65 and older will
more than double to 71 million, comprising roughly
20% of the U.S. population. In some states, fully a
quarter of the population will be aged 65 and older.
The cost of providing health care for an older Amer-
ican is three to five times greater than the cost for
someone younger than 65. By 2030, the nation’s health
care spending is projected to increase by 25% due to
demographic shifts unless improving and preserving
the health of older adults is more actively addressed.
Almost 90% of Americans over the age of 65 have
one or more degenerative disorders, such as heart
disease,cancer, arthritis, diabetes, macular degenera-
tion, andosteoporosis. These conditions were once
considered inevitable diseases of old age, but now are
recognized as life-style diseases. Therefore, changes
in habits, including diet, can significantly reduce the
risks of developing these diseases as well as preventpremature aging. However, according to a report by
the Merck Institute of Aging and Health and the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, two-
thirds of older adults fail to adhere to a healthy diet
and one-third fail to exercise. Therefore, to ensure that
the aging population takes necessary steps to stay
healthy and independent and to reduce the risk of
disabilities, it is necessary to educate the elderly
about healthy behaviors and to help them translate
that knowledge into action.
Energy decline in the elderly, as lean body mass,
including muscle, decreases with age. Therefore seniors
need to eat foods that are concentrated in nutrients but
low in calories. It has been recommended that after the
age of 50 that men reduce their daily calorie intake by
600 calories and that women reduce their daily calorie
intake by 300 calories. However, calorie needs will vary
with the level of exercise a person gets, as well as other
health conditions. For example, the calorie needs of
a wheelchair-bound 80-year-old will differ from an
85-year-old who plays tennis and swims every day.
Maintaining a healthy weight may reduce the risk
of many chronic diseases, help with flexibility and
mobility, and aid in mental alertness. The risks of
being underweight include poor memory, decreased
immunity, osteoporosis, decreased muscle strength,
hypothermia (lowered body temperature), andconsti-
pation. The risks of being overweight or obese include
type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cho-
lesterol,coronary heart disease, stroke, some types of
cancer, and gallbladder disease.SOURCE: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of
Health and Human ServicesSenior nutritionHealth risks of underweight older adults- Constipation
- Decreased immunity
- Decreased muscle strength
- Hypothermia (lowered body temperature)
- Osteoporosis (bone loss)
- Poor memory
Health risks of overweight or obese older adults - Coronary heart disease
- High blood cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Gallbladder disease
- Some types of cancer
- Stroke
- Type 2 diabetes
(Illustration by GGS Information Services/Thomson Gale.)Senior nutrition