Hidden Hunger: Solutions for America’s Aging Populations

Authors

Manfred Eggersdorfer, DSM Nutritional Products AGFollow
Ucheoma Akobundu, Meals on WheelsFollow
Regan L. Bailey, Purdue UniversityFollow
Julie Shlisky, The Sackler Institute for Nutrition ScienceFollow
Amy R. Beaudreault, UC DavisFollow
Gilles Bergeron, The Sackler Institute for Nutrition ScienceFollow
Robert B. Blancato, National Coordinator, Defeat Malnutrition TodayFollow
Jeffrey B. Blumberg, Tufts UniversityFollow
Megan W. Bourassa, The Sackler Institute for Nutrition ScienceFollow
Filomena Gomes, The Sackler Institute for Nutrition ScienceFollow
Gordon Jensen, University of VermontFollow
Mary Ann Johnson, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Douglas Mackay, Council for Responsible NutritionFollow
Keri Marshall, DSM Nutritional ProductsFollow
Simin Nikbin Meydani, Tufts UniversityFollow
Katherine L. Tucker, University of Massachusetts LowellFollow

ORCID IDs

0000-0003-0181-6223

0000-0003-3871-8635

0000-0001-7640-662X

Date of this Version

2018

Citation

Nutrients 2018, 10, 1210

Comments

© 2018 by the authors.

Open access

doi:10.3390/nu10091210

Abstract

The global population, including the United States, is experiencing a demographic shift with the proportion of older adults (aged ≥ 65 years) growing faster than any other age group. This demographic group is at higher risk for developing nutrition-related chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes as well as infections such as influenza and pneumonia. As a result, an emphasis on nutrition is instrumental for disease risk reduction. Unfortunately, inadequate nutrient status or deficiency, often termed hidden hunger, disproportionately affects older adults because of systematic healthcare, environmental, and biological challenges. This report summarizes the unique nutrition challenges facing the aging population and identifies strategies, interventions, and policies to address hidden hunger among the older adults, discussed at the scientific symposium “Hidden Hunger: Solutions for America’s Aging Population”, on March 23, 2018.