Editorial

Citation

Wells, D. (1999), "Editorial", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 99 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.1999.01799eaa.001

Editorial

This is the United Nations Year of Older Persons, so it seems appropriate that we should look at the nutritional status of older people. Nestlé recently held a conference which looked at this topic and in particular to see how good nutrition can keep elderly people fit and well. It is a well-known fact that we are living in an ageing society. By the year 2010 there will be a substantial increase in very old people, people over 75 years, living in the UK.

Nutritional deficiencies give rise to illness and delay recovery and healing. Many physical and mental infirmities can be attributed to nutritional deficiency. But when deficiencies are detected, action can be taken. However, it is known that good nutrition throughout life can affect the prevalence of diseases such as diabetes and osteoporosis in later life. Coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension and obstructive pulmonary disease in old age have been attributed to foetal undernutrition and poor nutrition in infancy.

In free-living, elderly people malnutrition is estimated to affect less than 6 per cent, but in hospitals as many as 40 per cent may be malnourished and even more, 60 per cent, in nursing homes. Of 500 admissions to the Dundee Teaching Hospital Unit, two-thirds of elderly people were found to lose weight while they were in hospital. In one long-stay hospital ward a seven-day weighted record dietary survey showed that the food intake of the elderly sick provided only 68 per cent of their energy requirement. With advancing age there is a natural decrease in food intake. In addition ageing factors such as loss of taste and smell and the wearing of dentures often leads to a decrease in food intake. Psychosocial factors such as depression and isolation may decrease an elderly person’s desire for food. But if food intake is reduced so much that malnutrition is the result, there will be a poorer recovery from illness, immune dysfunction and poorer post-operative recovery. In these ways physical, mental, social and environmental factors combine with ageing to alter the nutritional status of elderly people.

Screening for nutritional status would help to ensure that elderly persons continued to be fit and well for as long as possible. Nestlé Nutrition Services have produced a Mini Nutritional Assessment form which is ideal for simple, nutritional screening. It includes questions ranging from reasons for any possible weight loss and decreased food intake to psychosocial problems and the number of prescription drugs taken. Questions are also included about the composition of meals consumed and the subjects’ own view of their nutritional status and general health.

If such a form was used regularly, for example, when an elderly person visited the GP and appeared to be suffering from some nutritional deficiency, it would enable that deficiency to be identified and positive action taken to overcome it. Readers can obtain their own supplies of the Mini Nutritional Assessment forms by writing to Nestlé UK Ltd, St George’s House, Croydon, Surrey CR9 1NR. Please mark your enquiry envelope A20.

Dilys Wells