Hidden Hunger: Solutions for America’s Aging Populations

• Published in: Nutrients Vol. 10; no. 9; p. 1210
• Main Authors: Eggersdorfer, Manfred, Akobundu, Ucheoma, Bailey, Regan L., Shlisky, Julie, Beaudreault, Amy R., Bergeron, Gilles, Blancato, Robert B., Blumberg, Jeffrey B., Bourassa, Megan W., Gomes, Filomena, Jensen, Gordon, Johnson, Mary Ann, Mackay, Douglas, Marshall, Keri, Meydani, Simin Nikbin, Tucker, Katherine L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.09.2018; MDPI
• Subjects: Adults; Age; Age Factors; Aged; Aging; Arthritis; at-risk population; Baby boomers; Chronic illnesses; Congresses as Topic; Costs; Diabetes; Dietary minerals; Dietary supplements; Disease; elderly; Feeding Behavior; Female; Food; Geriatric Assessment; health services; Healthy Aging; Healthy Diet; heart diseases; Hospitals; Humans; hunger; influenza; issues and policy; Male; Malnutrition; Noncommunicable Diseases - epidemiology; Noncommunicable Diseases - prevention & control; Nutrients; nutrition; Nutrition research; Nutritional Status; Nutritive Value; Older people; Physiology; pneumonia; Policy Making; Population; Protective Factors; Quality of life; Recommended Dietary Allowances - legislation & jurisprudence; Review; Risk Factors; risk reduction; Risk Reduction Behavior; Science; United States; United States - epidemiology; United States; New York; United States > US; older adults; health; nutrition; policy
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu10091210

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.