Food for added life years: Putting research into action (Food4Years)

By 2050, it is predicted that one in four people in the UK will be aged 65 years or over. We have seen increases in lifespan over the last number of decades, however, this not necessarily complemented by increases in health. Improvements in medication and treatments mean that older people are spending longer living with their diseases causing them to spend their latter years living with poor health, disability, and frailty. With our population becoming older on average, this places increasing strain on health and social care services. Ensuring a healthy diet in older adults is one important strategy for supporting health, wellbeing, independence, and quality of life in older adults. One in ten people over the age of 65 are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition in the UK. There are many barriers for older people to consume a nutrient dense diet. In recent years a large body of research has explored factors that can enhance the quality of the diet in older adults, however this knowledge has yet to translate into food products and policy changes. For example, there is a plethora of products on the market targeting infants, children and adolescents, and a consistent acknowledgement that their needs are different. Yet there remains a lack of products supporting healthy ageing, despite the food industry recognising the need to address the challenges of designing and marketing high-quality foods and meals for the older adult consumer.
Much more needs to be done to increase the intake of specific foods, diets and nutrients by older adults, that can help them to improve the quality of life as they age. This can be achieved through a variety of methods which may include improving the nutritional information available to older adults, their carers and health care professional, development and marketing of food products that meet older adult's specific needs, behaviour change strategies such as "nudging" and changes in policy that promote the development of healthier diets for older adults. The overall aim of our project is to build a community of consumers, businesses, charities, clinicians, and academic researchers that are thoroughly committed to the development, integration and communication of healthy, affordable foods and diets for older adults. We will develop research, communication campaigns and policy guidance for foods, diets and environments specifically to promote quality of life and improved health in the ageing UK population.

The UK national population trajectory forecasts that by 2050, one in four people will be aged 65 years+. However, increases in life-span appear to be surpassing increases in health-span. Incidence rates for chronic diseases are increasing with treatments allowing people to live for longer with their disease. There is good evidence to support changes to lifestyle to maintain or improve body composition, cognitive health, musculoskeletal health, immune function and vascular health in older adults. Much research has been done which has produced significant support for foods and nutrients that contribute to improved health span. Yet two major barriers remain. Firstly, older adult consumers are not meeting current UK recommendations for macro and micronutrients yet this would provide benefits to health and quality of life. Secondly, the UK-specific recommendations may not be sufficient to support the aging population, particularly for nutrients with key physiological roles.

More needs to be done to improve intakes of specific foods, diets and nutrients by older adults, through a variety of mechanisms including improved clarity of information, appropriate marketing, "nudge" strategies and policy changes to enable incentives. More research is needed to explore how to build consumer awareness about the importance eating for healthy ageing and co-produce and co-create diets and foods that meet the ageing populations needs. This message needs to be supported by policy makers and national guidelines. The current market offer of real food solutions for older adults is modest; despite the food industry recognising the need to address the challenges of designing and marketing high-quality foods and meals for the older adult consumer. The aim of the Research Network is to build a Community that is absolutely committed to the development, integration and communication of healthy, affordable foods and specific diets for all older adults across our food landscape.