Older and wiser? Maybe not.
An investigation in JAMA Network Open found the number of U.S. adults ages 65 and older with poor diet quality increased by 10%—from 51% to 61%—between 2001 and 2018.
The percentage of those who had what was considered an “ideal” diet was alarmingly low, at just 0.4%, and likely exacerbates the diet-related disease burden among elders.
Researchers said older adults ate more processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages and high-sodium foods, while intake of fruits and vegetables, fish, and whole grains decreased. It’s a big ask, but the study authors hope to increase public awareness of diet trend and quality in older Americans enough to spur the changes needed to improve eating habits and, in turn, increase the number of healthy years people can live.
Matthew Kadey, MS, RD
Matthew Kadey, MS, RD, is a James Beard Award–winning food journalist, dietitian and author of the cookbook Rocket Fuel: Power-Packed Food for Sport + Adventure (VeloPress 2016). He has written for dozens of magazines, including Runner’s World, Men’s Health, Shape, Men’s Fitness and Muscle and Fitness.
