Malnutrition is a serious condition impacting the health, functionality, and quality of life of older adults living in the community. This article provides the history, context, and suggestions for better addressing it in the United States. It briefly reviews the prevalence of malnutrition associated with undernutrition in the American older adult population and why it is of concern. Malnutrition screening and assessment tools are then described. Next, it turns to how Older Americans Act (OAA) nutrition programs are addressing malnutrition today. Finally, practical steps are outlined to better identify and intervene to eliminate or at least ameliorate malnutrition among older adults. They include strengthened linkages between the OAA social service infrastructure already in place and the broader community healthcare and social services sectors.
Private sector employees are frequently exposed to stressful situations like long working hours, harsh deadlines, and high sedentary time. These influence their diets, making them vulnerable to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The current study aimed at assessing the diets of sedentary employees from 2 regions of India: (1) Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), (2) Bengaluru. This would help in understanding the dietary patterns of employees. Employees (n=390) were enrolled from 17 worksites in this cross-sectional study. Sociodemographic and dietary data (using 2-day 24-hour recall and Food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) were collected. DietCal software was used to estimate the nutrient intakes, which were compared with the estimated average requirements (EAR). Ultraprocessed foods (UPF) intake was assessed using the NOVA-UPF screener. Statistical analysis was conducted using MS-Excel and STATA. Both cities had similar sociodemographics. A total of 4%, 60%, and 40% did not fall within the recommended ranges for percentage calories from proteins, fats and carbohydrates, respectively. The prevalence of inadequacy for micronutrients was also high (calcium: 70%, zinc: 99%, riboflavin: 998%, niacin: 74%, folate: 85.%, ascorbic acid: 54%, vitamin B 12 : 93% and retinol: 59%), with more Bengaluru subjects contributing to this prevalence ( P <0.05). Eighty-nine percent had sodium intakes that exceeded the recommended limit, while only 3% had potassium intakes at or above the recommended intake. This indicated poor diets among subjects. A higher percentage of Delhi subjects consumed UPFs (76%) than Bengaluru (48.%). Subjects had poor nutrient intake, with high fat and salt intake, and processed/fast food consumption. Educating employees about healthy diets and ensuring healthier food environments could reduce the NCD burden.
Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is a central component of traditional dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean diet and has been extensively investigated for its potential health benefits. Numerous epidemiological studies, randomized trials, and mechanistic investigations associate EVOO consumption with favorable effects on cardiovascular risk factors, inflammation, endothelial function, and overall mortality. Despite this body of evidence, some influential proponents of no-oil whole-food plant-based diets recommend eliminating all added oils, including EVOO, often citing concerns related to caloric density, nutrient displacement, and vascular impairment. As such views gain increasing visibility, a careful evaluation of the scientific evidence underlying these claims is warranted. This manuscript examines 10 commonly cited arguments against EVOO and evaluates them in the context of published research on dietary fats, olive oil, and cardiometabolic health. The analysis indicates that none of the claims used to discourage EVOO consumption are supported by the broader scientific literature.
