Eating habits and behaviors of older people: Where are we now and where should we go?

Mary Yannakoulia; Eirini Mamalaki; Costas A Anastasiou; Niki Mourtzi; Irene Lambrinoudaki; Nikolaos Scarmeas

doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2018.05.001

Eating habits and behaviors of older people: Where are we now and where should we go?

Maturitas. 2018 Aug:114:14-21. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2018.05.001. Epub 2018 May 16.

Authors

Mary Yannakoulia¹, Eirini Mamalaki², Costas A Anastasiou³, Niki Mourtzi⁴, Irene Lambrinoudaki⁵, Nikolaos Scarmeas⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: myiannak@hua.gr.
² Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
³ Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece; Department of Social Medicine, Psychiatry and Neurology, 1st Department of Neurology, Aeginition University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
⁴ Department of Social Medicine, Psychiatry and Neurology, 1st Department of Neurology, Aeginition University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
⁵ Menopause Clinic, 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aretaieio Hospital, Athens, Greece.
⁶ Department of Social Medicine, Psychiatry and Neurology, 1st Department of Neurology, Aeginition University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology and The Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.

PMID: 29907241
DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2018.05.001

Abstract

Nutrition is a modifiable factor affecting the quality of life and independence of older people. The physiological, psychological and social changes during aging affect their dietary choices. Many older adults have inadequate energy and protein intake. Carbohydrate intake and intake of total lipids, in terms of contribution to total energy intake, generally are within the recommended levels, but a decline in overall energy intake as well as the limited variety of micronutrient-dense foods that older people tend to consume result in an inadequate intake of several micronutrients. Adherence to healthy dietary patterns has been described as only moderate among older adults. Health-care practitioners should educate older people and promote healthy diets, in particular adequate energy and protein intake.

Keywords: Aging; Eating habits; Nutrition; Older.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Aged
Aging / psychology*
Diet*
Energy Intake / physiology
Feeding Behavior / psychology*
Female
Humans
Male
Nutritional Status*
Quality of Life*