Healthy Diet

Eating a healthy diet is important for aging well. Poor nutrition is common in older adults and can cause many health problems.

Common Types of Malnutrition in Older People

Malnutrition includes both under-nutrition and over-nutrition.

• Under-nutrition happens when a person does not eat enough of the right food. They may lose too much weight and develop many health problems. People with serious illness may also lose a lot of weight.
• Over-nutrition can happen when a person becomes less active but keeps eating the same amount of food. Carrying extra weight is linked to serious diseases, including heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes. Even when eating too much, a person may still have a poor diet.

About 10 percent of older adults living at home do not eat enough. One-third of people over 65 eat too much. More than half of older adults in hospitals or nursing homes have malnutrition.

Last Updated May 2026