500,000 pensioners 'under-nourished', UK

Main Category: Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 22 Dec 2004 - 21:00 PDT

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Half a million elderly people in Britain are under-nourished and risking their health by not eating a proper diet, a new survey claims.

Age Concern warned that thousands of people aged over 65 were at risk because they cannot afford to eat properly.

According to the charity, one in five pensioners live in poverty, with many finding it hard to afford basic necessities, such as food and heating.

A report by the organisation estimates that 15 per cent of over-85s are unable to prepare a main meal for themselves, with 38 per cent denied regular help or access to hot food.

Age Concern said 22,000 older people are likely to die from cold-related illnesses this winter and pointed out that lack of proper nutrition can also increase the risk of infection.

Gordon Lishman, director-general of Age Concern, said: "It is scandalous that, in the 21st century, so many pensioners are facing ill-health because of an inadequate diet.

"The state pension must be increased so that all older people have enough money to cover basic living costs such as food and heating their homes during the winter."

Brigid McKevith, a nutrition scientist at the British Nutrition Foundation, commented: "People who are under-nourished will not be eating enough and be underweight because their diet will not be providing them with enough energy.

"The effect of this can be that people are more prone to infections and will take longer to recover from illness."

http://www.hda-online.org.uk/html/about/phnews.asp?ItemID=7387937

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