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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design

Published on: May 31, 2021

The anorexia of aging.

Vincenzo Di Francesco¹, Francesco Fantin, Francesca Omizzolo

¹Department of Biomedical and Surgical Sciences, Geriatric Unit, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. vincenzo.difrancesco@univr.it

Digestive Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)

|May 1, 2007

Summary

Malnutrition in older adults, or anorexia of aging, stems from altered body signals and brain control. Understanding these factors is key to improving nutritional support for seniors.

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Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design

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Published on: May 31, 2021

Assessing Activity-based Anorexia in Mice

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Area of Science:

Gerontology
Nutritional Science
Physiology

Background:

Malnutrition poses a significant threat to the health, well-being, and autonomy of the elderly.
Understanding the causes of inadequate energy intake in older adults is crucial for effective intervention.
The 'anorexia of aging' is a complex condition with multifactorial origins.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the mechanisms underlying the 'anorexia of aging'.
To identify the contributing factors to inadequate energy intake in the elderly population.

Main Methods:

Literature review focusing on physiological and neurological mechanisms of appetite regulation in aging.
Analysis of peripheral and central signaling pathways involved in feeding behavior.

Main Results:

Elderly individuals exhibit abnormal peripheral signal patterns and altered central hypothalamic control.
Impaired gastric motility contributes to negative feedback on appetite.
Exaggerated long-term adiposity signals (leptin, insulin) and postprandial anorexigenic signals (cholecystokinin, peptide YY) dominate over central feeding drives.

Conclusions:

Altered signaling pathways and hypothalamic control contribute significantly to anorexia of aging.
Nutritional strategies must consider these complex physiological changes for improved efficacy.
Further research into these mechanisms can inform better interventions for elderly malnutrition.