The diversity of healthy diets for older persons across the world

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To examine eating patterns, and with a particular focus on the different healthy diets followed by older persons across the world and the factors that can limit accessibility to healthy foods. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent evidence has demonstrated that older people are, generally speaking, following less healthy diets with respect to the past. The only exception seems to be China, but the quality of the food there appears to be less than optimal. Socioeconomic status and, in particular, the price of food seems to be the most important factors linked to diet quality. SUMMARY: Although healthy diets are associated with lower risk of several chronic disabling diseases, elderly people tend to follow less healthy diets with respect to the past. Public health strategies can and should promote healthy eating patterns in this population.