Nutrition in older people

Abstract

Over the last year the articles published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics (JHND) have covered many topics and have focused on different members of the population especially children. However in this issue there is an emphasis on the nutritional status of the elderly. Population demographics are changing in the UK, and worldwide, with an increasing proportion of the population aged over 60 years. Worldwide 10% of the population is now 60 years or above; by 2050 this is predicted to increase to 20% and by 2150, a third of the population will be 60 years or older (United Nations 2002). The percentage of the UK population aged 65 years and older has increased by 1.5 million over the last 25 years; in 2008 this constituted approximately 16% of the population (Office for National Statistics, 2009).