A national study of older Americans shows those who have limited mobility and low physical activity – scientifically categorized as “frail” – are five times more likely to report that they often don’t have enough to eat, defined as “food insufficiency,” than older adults who were not frail.
The nationally representative study of more than 4,700 adults older than age 60 in the United States uses data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The results are online today in the British Journal of Nutrition.
Lead author Ellen Smit, an epidemiologist at Oregon State University, said we need to target interventions on promoting availability and access to nutritious foods among frail older adults. Because frail adults may have difficulty leaving the house to access fresh fruits and vegetables, communities could work on identifying programs or nonprofit organizations that can deliver nutritious meals or fresh produce to those most at risk.
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