Nutrition for Special Groups

Nutrition for Special Groups 3(3+0)

Lesson 26: Nutrition for the Elderly

Body Composition

1. Optimal nutrition and physical activity can minimize the body composition changes associated with aging.
2. In aging men, the percentage of fat mass increases initially, then levels off or decreases. Such change has been attributed to accelerated decrease in lean mass, along with an initial increase and a later decrease in fat mass.3 Women show a generally similar pattern.
3. Intramuscular and visceral fat tend to increase with aging, while subcutaneous fat declines in other areas of the body.
4. Increased fat infiltration into muscle with aging is associated with lower muscle strength and reduced lower extremity performance.
5. Changes in body composition occur because of the change in activity of certain hormones that regulate metabolism.
6. Action of insulin diminishes with age as the pancreas secreates less of insulin.
7. Growth hormone and androgens also decline with advancing age and contribute to a decrease in lean body mass.
8. Prolactin increases with age and maintains body fat.