Date: August 3rd, 2016
When you visit your health care provider, you can expect the usual barrage of tests and measurements for height, weight, blood pressure, and the like. But have you ever been asked about your food intake or nutritional status? If not, you aren't alone.
Malnutrition can be a hidden threat to older adults, with symptoms that include sudden, unintended weight loss and/or loss of appetite and decreased food intake. Many cases of malnutrition go undetected because the signs and symptoms are subtle and often overlooked by health care providers. The truth of the matter is that as many as one in two older adults are at risk for malnutrition, which is NOT a normal part of aging.
Here's the tricky thing about malnutrition. Its causes might seem obvious—lack of access to healthy foods or a diet low in nutrients. However, the condition usually results from a combination of physical, social, and psychological factors.
As we age, our dietary needs can change, and our body's ability to absorb nutrients can decline. Older adults may become deficient in certain vitamins and minerals, often failing to consume enough calories or protein. Weakening senses of taste and smell, slowing digestive systems, and chewing or swallowing problems can all contribute to malnutrition.
Additionally, people with chronic disease are at risk of malnutrition. Disease-associated malnutrition can happen with cancer, diabetes, and dementia, to name a few. These diseases can reduce appetite and change metabolism and digestion. And their treatment and management can require dietary restrictions, as well as medications that cause appetite-reducing side effects.
Older adults who live in long-term care facilities face a higher risk of malnutrition, as they often have multiple chronic conditions. They may also be socially isolated or depressed, lack interest in food, and depend on staff for help with eating.
Malnutrition can lead to hospitalization, and hospitalization itself puts people at risk. Surgeries and other procedures may require that patients follow restricted diets or even not eat at all. The worry, depression, and stress caused by hospitalization can also all reduce appetite, at a time when people need nutrients to heal and recover.
The consequences of malnutrition are serious. Without proper nutrition, our bodies can’t stay healthy, fight off disease, or deal with illnesses that we already have. If you think you or a loved one is at risk for malnutrition, start a conversation with your health care provider and request a consultation with a dietitian, if necessary. Malnutrition, while serious, is treatable and preventable.
For more information, please visit www.agingresearch.org/malnutrition.
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