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There is a well-established link between eating well and ageing well. However, feeling full much more quickly than when you were younger (also called early satiety) is a common feature of ageing. There are a number of reasons for early satiety. Sense of taste and smell can diminish with age and make foods less appealing so there is a loss of interest in foods that no longer taste or smell quite right. Also, consumed food takes longer to pass through the stomach and the gut. This is due to both changes in muscle tone and changes to appetite hormones (ghrelin, leptin and cholecystokinin). These changes can cause both early satiety and feeling fuller for longer. Some medications can also contribute to these effects. Recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that people are living longer and as they get older, they are increasingly living alone (particularly males). Several studies have demonstrated that those living alone tend to eat less and not as well as those living with others. Poor nutrition in older people has been linked with a number of negative health outcomes including increased frailty, increase in falls, poor recovery times after periods of ill health and loss of mobility and independence. Loss of mobility and independence can also have serious impacts for mental health and capacity to age well and thrive. With early satiety comes an increased risk of not eating enough to meet your daily nutrition requirements. There are a number of strategies for continuing to eat well and maintain good health. These include eating smaller, more frequent meals that are nutrient dense. For example, swap potatoes or rice for an extra serve of vegetables or extra protein; replace the piece of cake at afternoon tea (or for dessert) with a tub of protein-enriched yoghurt or hummus dip and crackers; and include hot milk-based drinks (dairy based or non-dairy alternative) while limiting fluid intake before and during meals. If you are living on your own, make a point of catching up with friends at a meal-time. Studies show that people eat more if they are eating in company. Finally, when thinking about food and nutrition, it is always good to remember that food is more than just nutrients. The Fuzzy Logic Science Show is 11am Sundays on 2xx 98.3FM. Send your questions to [email protected] Twitter @FuzzyLogicSci Podcast FuzzyLogicOn2xx.Podbean.com
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Studies show that people eat more if they eat in company. Picture: Shutterstock
There is a well-established link between eating well and ageing well. However, feeling full much more quickly than when you were younger (also called early satiety) is a common feature of ageing.
There are a number of reasons for early satiety. Sense of taste and smell can diminish with age and make foods less appealing so there is a loss of interest in foods that no longer taste or smell quite right. Also, consumed food takes longer to pass through the stomach and the gut. This is due to both changes in muscle tone and changes to appetite hormones (ghrelin, leptin and cholecystokinin). These changes can cause both early satiety and feeling fuller for longer. Some medications can also contribute to these effects.
Recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that people are living longer and as they get older, they are increasingly living alone (particularly males). Several studies have demonstrated that those living alone tend to eat less and not as well as those living with others.
Poor nutrition in older people has been linked with a number of negative health outcomes including increased frailty, increase in falls, poor recovery times after periods of ill health and loss of mobility and independence.
Loss of mobility and independence can also have serious impacts for mental health and capacity to age well and thrive. With early satiety comes an increased risk of not eating enough to meet your daily nutrition requirements.
There are a number of strategies for continuing to eat well and maintain good health. These include eating smaller, more frequent meals that are nutrient dense.
For example, swap potatoes or rice for an extra serve of vegetables or extra protein; replace the piece of cake at afternoon tea (or for dessert) with a tub of protein-enriched yoghurt or hummus dip and crackers; and include hot milk-based drinks (dairy based or non-dairy alternative) while limiting fluid intake before and during meals.
If you are living on your own, make a point of catching up with friends at a meal-time. Studies show that people eat more if they are eating in company.
Finally, when thinking about food and nutrition, it is always good to remember that food is more than just nutrients.
The Fuzzy Logic Science Show is 11am Sundays on 2xx 98.3FM.
Send your questions to [email protected] Twitter @FuzzyLogicSci Podcast FuzzyLogicOn2xx.Podbean.com
