Eureka! Institutional Repository

Old age is the last stage of human life. The older age increases, the more mortality increases. In order to reduce the morbidity experienced by the Old Age, their general well-being is necessary such as their nutritional condition which is associated with the onset of certain diseases. The nutritional physiology of the elderly is analysed such as changes in endocrine and neurological function. There are types of nutritional problems such as protein-energy malnutrition, dehydration and vitamin deficiency. appetite and cause swallowing disorders. Other reasons may be economical, psychological and psychosocial. Proposals for a healthy and balanced diet are provided. The nutritional status is evaluated and detection of nutritional risk with nutritional intake assessment, nutritional requirements, immune system function and anthropometry. Research was carried out in the prefecture of Athens on 100 elderly people, 50 men and 50 women, examining their eating habits and medical history. Personal, individual characteristics such as the degree of activity, marital status, maintenance conditions were interviewed and anthropometric measurements were carried out. The data on diagrams was processed and recorded with the SPSSIBMSTATISTICSv20 statistical analysis program, which extracted the necessary results. The body mass index's findings are that the majority of respondents belong to the category overweight, second normal and finally obese. A higher proportion of normal Β.Μ.Ι. levels belong to women, while men have an increased number of overweight and obese. The majority of the sample consumes three meals daily, does not eat outside the home, almost half consume rare meat while there is a high rate of fish consumption. More than 75% suffer from chronic conditions, however, diseases have groups from all categories of B.M.I. but based on research, people with a normal body mass index tend to have the lowest rates of ailments. Therefore, the eating habits of elderly people may affect their state of health, which is why proper and balanced nutrition contributes positively to the health of the population under study.