More Than a Meal for Seniors' Social Lives
Source: By Associated Press / Sept. 2, 2023
GOFFSTOWN, N.H. (AP) — A group of friends and neighbors meets for a weekly meal, choosing from a special menu of nutritious foods paid for by social programs meant to keep older adults eating healthy.
They’re all over 60, and between enjoying butternut squash soup, sandwiches, oats and eggs, they chat and poke fun about families, politics, and the news of the day.
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On any given day, millions of people in the U.S. are trying to lose weight. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that a little over 40% of adults in the U.S. have obesity. And a new report in the Lancet shows a stunning rise in obesity since 1990 among all ages and finds that 3 in 4 adults aged 25 and older in the U.S. are overweight or obese. Having obesity or being overweight can increase the risk of many chronic diseases and health issues, including joint problems, hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and certain cancers.

People’s perceptions about their food experiences are valuable because they are related to their quality of life: Individuals who feel positively about these different aspects of the food they recently ate not only are more likely to have higher levels of wellbeing but also tend to feel more socially connected or attached to their community.
In a new study, researchers in Sweden used artificial intelligence and brain scans to determine whether there was any connection between older adults’ lifestyles and their brain health.Having a larger brain age gap was associated with inflammation, changes in white matter, and other indications of poor brain health, which raise the risk of cognitive decline.231

Winter can be a challenging season for seniors, as colder temperatures and seasonal conditions increase the risk of illnesses, injuries, and other health complications. With age, the body’s ability to regulate temperature and fight infections diminishes, making it essential to take proactive measures to safeguard older adults during the colder months. Below are practical strategies to prevent winter-related illnesses in seniors.