Nutrition goals for older adults: a review

Elderly people are generally identified as being at particular risk of poor dietary intake and nutritional problems and are thus a high-priority target group for nutrition education. In this paper, specific goals of nutrition education for older adults and high-risk groups within the elderly population are discussed through a review of three crucial areas: (1) current knowledge of the eating patterns, nutrient intake, and supplement use of older adults; (2) existing information on the multiple influences (physical, behavioral, and socioeconomic) on the eating habits of older adults; and (3) the potential benefits and likely efficacy of dietary and life-style changes in this age group.