Question

there are many physical changes during adulthood that affect nutritional status. which two changes, do you think are the most damaging and why

Answer 1

Nutrition is very essential for health promotion. Aging remarkably has influence over the maintenance of good nutritional health in adults. Changes in nutritional status occurs as the age increases. Those changes may be physical, pathological and social. The physical changes that occur as age increases are hormonal changes, decreased taste & smell, gastrointestinal changes.

The changes which may be most damaging is diminished taste & smell and gastrointestinal changes.

Sense of smell and taste change as age increases. Losing the ability to distuinguish the foods may lead to decreased intake by older adults.Taste buds function may decrease due to atrophy or shrinking of taste buds as the age increases. Olfactory function may be lost due to any secondary condition or age related deterioration.Chewing problems may also affect nutritional status because sometimes they may have loss of tooth or have dentures ,etc. Smell and taste has greater influence over food intake ,they remarkably suppress appetite leading to malnutrition.

In gastrointestinal changes , the adulthood experience loss of appetite ,atrophic gastritis occur as the gastric emptying slows with age. This also hinders the absorption of nutrients in the stomach.Gastrointestinal functions decreased may lead to a very damaging effect affecting nutritional status in adulthood.