QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tucker, K. L. Articles by Buranapin, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tucker, K. L. Articles by Buranapin, S.

---

Supplement

Nutrition and Aging in Developing Countries¹

Jean Mayer U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111

²To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: tucker{at}hnrc.tufts.edu.

The number of individuals aged 60 y or older is projected to double as a proportion of the world’s population and to more than triple in number over the next 50 y. These changes will be most dramatic in the less developed countries, where the transition from a young to old age structure will be more compressed in time than it has been for developed countries. At the same time, there is evidence of a characteristic sequence of changes in diet and declines in physical activity associated with social and economic change. Diets are becoming higher in fats, animal products, and refined foods and lower in fiber, contributing to rapidly increasing prevalences of obesity and type 2 diabetes. The number of people with diabetes in developing countries is projected to almost triple by the year 2025. Hypertension and vascular disease are also rapidly becoming more prevalent. Evidence that lower birth weights are associated with greater likelihood of adult obesity and chronic disease underscores the magnitude of risk in these countries. Few programs or institutions currently exist to address the problems of the growing elderly population. The social changes that accompany urbanization will likely increase nutritional risk for this group. Despite lower energy intakes with age, elderly have higher requirements for several micronutrients, making them vulnerable to deficiencies that further aggravate chronic conditions. To reduce the impending burden of disease and disability worldwide, urgent action is needed to understand and to address the nutritional needs of the aging population.

KEY WORDS: • nutrition • aging • developing countries • diet • chronic disease • nutrition transition

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Peet International variations in the outcome of schizophrenia and the prevalence of depression in relation to national dietary practices: an ecological analysis The British Journal of Psychiatry, May 1, 2004; 184(5): 404 - 408. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Peet Diet, diabetes and schizophrenia: review and hypothesis The British Journal of Psychiatry, April 1, 2004; 184(47): s102 - s105. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Forrester Historic and Early Life Origins of Hypertension in Africans J. Nutr., January 1, 2004; 134(1): 211 - 216. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]