Frailty and nutrition in the context of ageing: Exploring dietary habits among community-dwelling older adults

Abstract

As life expectancy increases, the ageing population faces a higher risk of illness and altered nutritional needs, making it essential to study factors that can help maintain or improve health. The overall aim of this thesis was to explore the relationship between nutrition and frailty in the context of ageing, with particular emphasis on how dietary habits, meal patterns, and lifestyle factors are associated with health and well-being among independently living older adults. Paper I investigated gender differences in food-related practices through interviews with older adults aged 80 and above. Most participants ate their main meal at home. Men preferred company during meals, but were less confident in cooking, while women typically viewed cooking as routine. Loneliness and widowhood affected food enjoyment and habits. Paper II examined relationships between both meal frequency and vegetable intake and the development of frailty in a population of older adults. Women reported slightly higher meal frequency. About half of the participants included vegetables in at least one daily meal. Neither factor was associated with the risk of developing frailty. Paper III focused on older immigrants, exploring post-migration dietary changes, missing native foods, and associations between food habits, self-rated health and well-being. Most had lived in Sweden for over two decades. Nearly half changed their dietary habits after migrating to Sweden, often missing familiar foods. Men rated their health higher than women. Meal frequency and vegetable intake were not, however, associated with self-rated health or life satisfaction. Paper IV presents a systematic literature review on the impact of combined nutrition and exercise interventions on frailty. Ten publications were included. Results suggested that such interventions may improve physical health and help reverse frailty in older adults. Overall, this thesis showed that dietary habits and health perceptions in later life may be influenced by gender roles, migration experiences, and social context. Interventions that combine nutrition and physical exercise may help older adults maintain better health as they age.