Ch 17 - Nutrition during Adulthood and the Later Years

Question 1

Some behaviours seem to have the greatest influence on people’s health and therefore on their psychological age. These habits include:

Answer 1

• eating well-balanced meals
• engaging in physical activity
• not smoking
• abstinence or moderate use of alcohol
• maintaining a healthy body weight
• sleeping regularly/adequately

Question 2

Regular physical activity is the most powerful predictor of _________

Answer 2

a person’s mobility in the later years

Question 3

_________ and ________ tend to decline with aging, making older people vulnerable to falls, immobility, and loss of independence.

Answer 3

Muscle mass; muscle strength

Question 4

What are the benefits of strength training?

Answer 4

Strength training not only improves balance, muscle strength, and mobility, but it also increases energy intake, thereby enhancing nutrient intakes

Question 5

What has research revealed about animals?

Answer 5

Research has revealed that animals live longer and have fewer age-related diseases when their energy intakes are restricted

Question 6

When manipulating diet of animals, when do life-prolonging benefits become evident?

Answer 6

It becomes evident when the diet provides enough food to prevent malnutrition and an energy intake of about 70% of normal

Question 7

What are some benefits of restricting energy intake in animals?

Answer 7

Restricting energy intake in animals not only produces fewer free radicals, but also increases antioxidant activity and enhances DNA repair

Question 8

Many of the physiological responses to energy restriction seen in animals also occur in people whose intakes are ________ restricted.

Answer 8

moderately

Question 9

What are the benefits of restricting energy intake by 10 to 20 percent?

Answer 9

Body weight, body fat, inflammatory proteins, growth factors, and blood pressure drop, and blood lipids and insulin response improve – favorable changes for preventing chronic diseases

Question 10

______ contributes to a variety of age-related conditions.

Answer 10

Stress

Question 11

Both physical stressors and psychological stressors elicit the body’s stress response. What is the stress response?

Answer 11

The body’s response to stress, mediated by both nervous and hormonal systems bringing about the classic fight-or-flight response

Question 12

What effects do prolonged stress have on the body?

Answer 12

Prolonged/severe stress can drain the body of its reserves and leave it weakened, aged, and vulnerable to illness

Question 13

What are the effects of being moderately overweight in adulthood?

Answer 13

Being moderately overweight (BMI between 23.5 and 27.5) is correlated with low mortality

Question 14

For some older adults, how might a low body weight be more detrimental than a high one?

Answer 14

Low body weight often reflects malnutrition. Without adequate body fat and nutrient reserves, an underweight person may be unprepared to fight against diseases

Question 15

In general, older people tend to lose _______ and gain _____.

Answer 15

bone and muscle; body fat

Question 16

What is sarcopenia?

Answer 16

Sarcopenia is the loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and quality. This contributes to a loss in mobility and balance, making falls likely

Question 17

As people age, the _________ loses function.

Answer 17

immune system

Question 18

How might the immune system become overstimulated?

Answer 18

Illness contributes to an overstimulated immune system. The combination of an inefficient and overactive response results in chronic inflammation

Question 19

What diseases all reflect an underlying inflammatory process?

Answer 19

Most disease common in older adults – such as atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, obesity, and rheumatoid arthritis – all reflect an underlying inflammatory process

Question 20

In addition to aging and diseases, the immune system is compromised by _________

Answer 20

nutrient deficiencies

Question 21

The combination of _____, ______, and _______ makes older people particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases.

Answer 21

age; illness; and poor nutrition

Question 22

What changes happen within the GI tract as people get older?

Answer 22

The intestinal walls loses strength and elasticity with age, and GI hormone secretions change. These actions slow motility and make constipation much more common

Question 23

What do changes in GI hormone secretions contribute to?

Answer 23

GI hormone secretions diminish appetite, leading to decreased energy intake and unintentional weight loss

Question 24

What is atrophic gastritis?

Answer 24

Atrophic gastritis is a condition characterized by an inflamed stomach, bacterial overgrowth, and a lack of HCL and intrinsic factor

Question 25

Which nutrients are impaired in people with atrophic gastritis?

Answer 25

Atrophic gastritis impairs the digestion and absorption of nutrients, most notable vitamin B12, but also biotin, folate, calcium, iron, and zinc

Question 26

What is dysphagia?

Answer 26

difficulty swallowing

Question 27

Tooth loss contributes to:

Answer 27

• difficulty/painful chewing
• limited food selection
• lower intakes of fibre and vitamins

Question 28

How do psychological changes contribute to inadequate nutrition?

Answer 28

Depressed people frequently lose their appetite and the motivation to cook or even eat

Question 29

How does socioeconomic status impact nutrition?

Answer 29

People of low socioeconomic status are likely to have inadequate food and nutrient intakes

Question 30

How does loneliness impact nutrition?

Answer 30

Loneliness is directly related to nutritional inadequacies, especially of energy intake

Question 31

The Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) cluster people older than 50 into two age categories. What are they?

Answer 31

51 to 70 years, and 71+

Question 32

Why are setting standards for older people difficult?

Answer 32

Because individual differences become more pronounced as people grow older. Genetic predispositions, chronic diseases, and various medications will affect nutrient needs

Question 33

Why is it difficult to persuade elderly people to drink enough water?

Answer 33

Many older people do not seem to feel thirsty or notice mouth dryness.

Question 34

How is dehydration a risk for older adults?

Answer 34

Total body water decreases with age, so even mild stresses can precipitate rapid dehydration

Question 35

What are some risks associated with dehydration?

Answer 35

Dehydrated older adults seem more susceptible to UTIs, pneumonia, pressure ulcers, and confusion and disorientation

Question 36

To prevent dehydration, older adults need to drink at least ___ glasses of water every day.

Answer 36

6

Question 37

On average, energy needs decline an estimated __% per decade.

Answer 37

5%

Question 38

Why do energy needs decline with age?

Answer 38

1. People usually reduce their physical activity

2. Basal metabolic rate declines because lean body mass and thyroid hormones diminish

Question 39

Why is it important for older adults to select mostly nutrient-dense foods?

Answer 39

Older adults need fewer kcals, but their nutrient needs remain high

Question 40

Why is protein important for the elderly?

Answer 40

Protein helps to support a healthy immune system, prevent muscle wasting, and optimize bone mass

Question 41

How can elderly people obtain adequate protein?

Answer 41

Protein must be obtained from low-kcal sources of high-quality protein, such as lean meats, poultry, fish, and eggs; fat-free and low-fat milk products, and legumes

Question 42

Why do elderly people need abundant carbs?

Answer 42

Carbs are needed to protect protein from being used as an energy source

Question 43

Without hydrochloric acid and intrinsic factor, digestion and absorption of _________ are inefficient.

Answer 43

vitamin B12

Question 44

What contributes to vitamin D deficiency in older adult?

Answer 44

• many older adults drink little or no milk
• many have limited exposure to sunlight
• aging reduces the skin’s capacity to make vitamin D and the kidneys ability to convert it to its active form

Question 45

What contributes to inadequate intakes of folate in older adults?

Answer 45

Medical conditions or medications can compromise folate status

Question 46

How might older adults develop iron deficiency?

Answer 46

1. Chronic blood loss from diseases and medicines

2. Poor iron absorption due to reduced stomach acid secretion and antacid use

Question 47

How does iron deficiency leave older adults vulnerable to infectious diseases?

Answer 47

Iron deficiency impairs immunity

Question 48

How does zinc deficiency affect older adults?

Answer 48

Zinc deficiency can depress the appetite and blunt the sense of taste