Nutrition of the elderly

Abstract

World Health Organization (WHO) gives the definition of “elderly” as a person aged 60 years and older. The elderly encounter both physical and psychological changes. With regard to the physical changes, there is a decline in body cells of the elderly people rather than an increase in body cells. The cell degeneration has great impacts on functions of organs, metabolism, and nutritional status. Poor nutritional status and malnutrition among the elderly are common. These group of people are likely not to get adequate minerals, calcium, and vitamins. They may also have some chronic diseases which are caused by inappropriate food intake such as obesity, diabetes, Atherosclerosis, and high blood pressure. As a result, nutritional status promotion among the elderly is essential to help them maintain their good health, prevent themselves from chronic diseases, inhibit their physical changes, and decrease violence of diseases.