Why can’t I eat as much as I used to?
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Hormonal shifts, diminished sense of smell and taste, and muscle loss – many factors can influence hunger loss in older adults.
PHOTO: ERIC HELGAS/NYTIMES
Melinda Wenner Moyer
- Older adults eat less due to hormonal changes that reduce hunger and increase fullness, slower stomach emptying, and loss of muscle affecting calorie needs.
- Diminished taste and smell, plus eating alone, lower appetite in older people, as food becomes less enjoyable and social dining encourages more eating.
- To regain appetite, experts suggest regular exercise, especially weight training, eating smaller balanced meals, using herbs and spices, and dining with others.
AI generated
It is common for people to eat less as they age, said Roger A. Fielding, a professor of nutrition at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.
In one analysis of nearly 60 studies, for instance, researchers found that those aged 60 or older consumed 16 per cent to 20 per cent fewer calories than younger adults did.
