{"id":1187,"date":"2020-12-14T15:00:08","date_gmt":"2020-12-14T18:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pressreleases.scielo.org\/en\/?p=1187"},"modified":"2023-04-14T11:41:23","modified_gmt":"2023-04-14T14:41:23","slug":"whats-are-the-main-nutritional-challenges-in-older-adults-during-the-covid-19-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pressreleases.scielo.org\/en\/2020\/12\/14\/whats-are-the-main-nutritional-challenges-in-older-adults-during-the-covid-19-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Whats are the main nutritional challenges in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gliciane Ceolin, doctoral student of Programa de P\u00f3s-Gradua\u00e7\u00e3o em Nutri\u00e7\u00e3o, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Florian\u00f3polis, SC, Brazil.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bruna Cunha Mendes, doctoral student of Programa de P\u00f3s-Gradua\u00e7\u00e3o em Nutri\u00e7\u00e3o, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Florian\u00f3polis, SC, Brazil.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jaqueline Schroeder, master’s of Programa de P\u00f3s-Gradua\u00e7\u00e3o em Nutri\u00e7\u00e3o, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Florian\u00f3polis, SC, Brazil.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Recently, researchers in the field of Nutrition at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) published the article \u201cNutritional challenges in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic\u201d<\/a>\u00a0of the Revista de Nutri\u00e7\u00e3o<\/em> de Campinas<\/em> on nutritional challenges in the health of the elderly in times of COVID-19 pandemic. The study consisted of a search of the literature in the main databases on the subject, mainly considering guidelines from official agencies (Ministe\u0301rio da Sau\u0301de – Brazil, 2020) and also examples of strategy from other countries.<\/p>\n

Regarding the documents and studies found, we discuss the main biological and environmental factors related to nutritional risk in the elderly, such as socioeconomic insecurity, which could affect food acquisition and the need for support in daily tasks and meals. The institutionalized older adults often depend on food donations, which may have reduced due to the economic crisis caused by the pandemic, and the aging process itself causes changes in physiological, nutritional necessities and eating habits.<\/p>\n

In addition, we present what is being done in this context of contagion control of COVID-19 to minimize nutritional risk among the elderly, reviewing some important strategies, such as the main dietary recommendations, the suggestion of individual or family nutritional advice on food choices for maintaining nutritional status (Petretto DR, Pili R., 2020). The use of television and video calls, remote assistance by nutritionists and contact, even if virtual, between family members and the elderly during meals, since it has been shown that meals eaten in company favor the quality of the diet, are other strategies addressed besides them, global and governmental tactics can be implemented.<\/p>\n

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Image: CEOLIN, G. et al.<\/p><\/div>\n

Healthy aging is already a major challenge, in the context of the COVID-19, this becomes more evident, and nutritionally, the pandemic has a great impact on this population. Elderly people should be prioritized in minimizing exposure to nutritional risk and COVID-19.<\/p>\n