'Eat well but keep moving'

THE nutrition guidance that many of us know is not necessarily right for older people, due to various factors that influence health as we age.

That is the finding of research led by the University of Plymouth which underpins new guidance for older adults, recently published by the British Dietetic Association (BDA).

Led by Professor Mary Hickson and Dr Abigail Tronco Hernandez, and commissioned by the BDA's Older People Specialist Group, the review explored the most up-to-date evidence for six key themes relating to over-65s.

Some of the key topics identified as being important for this age group included maintaining body weight, with weight loss not being appropriate for those that are slightly overweight; getting enough of certain nutrients; vitamin D supplementation; realistic levels of activity needed alongside nutrition; and the vital importance of enjoying what and how you eat.