An overview of appetite decline in older people
Anna L Pilgrim Senior research assistant, National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust; MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton
Sian M Robinson Professor of nutritional epidemiology, National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust; MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton
Avan Aihie Sayer Professor of geriatric medicine, NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust; MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton; Academic Geriatric Medicine, University of Southampton; NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care: Wessex
Helen C Roberts Associate professor of geriatric medicine, NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust; MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton; Academic Geriatric Medicine, University of Southampton; NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care: Wessex
Poor appetite is a common problem in older people living at home and in care homes, as well as hospital inpatients. It can contribute to weight loss and nutritional deficiencies, and associated poor healthcare outcomes, including increased mortality. Understanding the causes of reduced appetite and knowing how to measure it will enable nurses and other clinical staff working in a range of community and hospital settings to identify patients with impaired appetite. A range of strategies can be used to promote better appetite and increase food intake.
Nursing Older People.
27, 5, 29-35.
doi: 10.7748/nop.27.5.29.e697
Correspondence
alp@mrc.soton.ac.uk
Peer review
This article has been subject to double-blind review and checked using antiplagiarism software. For related articles visit our online archive and search using the keywords
Conflict of interest
None declared
Received: 06 March 2015
Accepted: 17 April 2015
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