Published: March 29, 2008 11:05 pm      

Aging can affect dietary intake

EDMOND — Many individuals are able to lead healthy, active lives well into their later years. A healthy diet and adequate exercise are ways to help ensure a long, productive life.

However, the aging process can cause some normal physical changes that can have an effect on dietary intake, said Jan Johnston, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service gerontology specialist.

“Some older individuals may see few physical changes as they age, while others may be affected greatly,” Johnston said. “While most people are in good nutritional health in their later years, some factors such as taste, smell, vision, muscle condition and teeth can have a major impact on food intake later on.”

The sense of taste and smell tend to decline in later years. Foods may take on a different taste than when the person was younger. Johnston said this is because children have more taste buds compared to any other time in life. As a person ages, the number of taste buds decrease.

In addition, food may smell different as one grows older because the number of olfactory cells, the functional unit in smelling, decrease with age. Medication also may affect how foods taste.

Johnston said these changes in taste and smell may decrease a person’s appetite for foods to such an extent that the diet becomes unbalanced.

“When you think about food intake, the quality of one’s vision isn’t necessarily something that comes to mind. However, eyesight generally declines with age,” she said. “As a result, shopping, cooking and eating may become more difficult. Problems reading the small print of recipes or the oven controls can result in decreased meal preparation.”

Some older people may have difficulty swallowing food because of decreased saliva production. Saliva moistens foods and makes swallowing easier.

Tooth loss is another factor older people face. The loss of teeth makes it difficult to eat and chew foods properly.

“Unfortunately, many older adults are unable to adjust well to dentures, or they have dentures that don’t fit properly,” Johnston said. “This leads to eating softer foods, which can in turn restrict food intake and can lead to an unbalanced diet.”

Muscular tone and coordination, which can decrease with age, also have an affect on eating. This can cause chewing to be difficult, as well as cause food to move slower through the intestine.

Along with vision, one’s strength and energy also affect food intake. Buying food, carrying heavy groceries, choosing from a wide variety of available products and preparing meals may become difficult. Because getting to the store on a regular basis can be more difficult for older adults, especially if the weather is bad, it is important to keep a well-stocked pantry.

Foods to keep on hand include tuna in water, canned meats, dried beans, peanut butter, canned/frozen fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, nonfat dried milk, cheese, ready-to-eat cereals, hot cooked cereals, crackers, rice and pasta.

“Also be sure to keep on hand a supply of convenience foods such as macaroni and cheese, low-sodium canned soup, pudding mixes, dry soup mixes and jelly,” Johnston said.

Other physical factors that can lead to less food consumption include a decrease in the amount of intestinal digestive enzymes. This can result in the decreased tolerance of milk or foods that are high in fat. Also, a decreased production of stomach acid can cause decreased digestion and a feeling of indigestion.

Johnston said it is not always a physical problem that causes decreased food intake for the older generation.

“Loneliness can be a major problem for many older persons, especially for those who live and eat alone,” she said. “When one feels lonely, there’s little incentive to prepare and eat a well-balanced meal. Eating is more than a source of essential vitamins and minerals. Meals also have emotional and social meaning as well.”

Income also plays a role in food consumption. Many older adults have to cope with less income, which often means less money available for food. This can lead to a poor, unbalanced diet. Also, some older people may downsize their living space. The new home may have inadequate space for storing and preparing foods. Money may be tight enough that it is a hardship to afford transportation to the grocery store.

“Many of the physical, emotional and social changes that occur with aging can negatively affect the appetite of older adults. While not all problems may be corrected, maintaining an interest in eating a well-balanced nutritious diet is vital,” Johnston said.

“Nutritional needs don’t decrease with age, with the exception of the amount of calories needed. A healthy, well-balanced diet is the best defense an individual has for staying healthy and preventing illness.”



TRISHA GEDON is a communications specialist in the Agricultural Communications Services at Oklahoma State University.