Healthy eating habits/Healthy Eating for Older Australians

Older adults should eat a variety of nutritious foods and keep physically active to maintain their overall health and wellbeing. As you get older your nutrient and energy needs differ from the rest of the population, as you need less energy as you used to and you need greater amounts of some nutrients. This page will provide information on the differing nutrition needs of Australians over 65 years of age and how to meet these nutrition needs.

Why do my nutrition needs change as I get older?

As you age, your body needs less energy to perform everyday tasks. This is due to decreases in the amount of muscle and bone mass within the body and increases in the amount of fat within the body. Older adults also have a decreased appetite, which also contributes to a reduced energy intake. While your energy needs decrease as you age, the need for some nutrients increases. This is due to the muscle, bone and fat tissue changes within the body, and because the body is less able to absorb some nutrients from the gut.

Muscles: Use them or lose them!

Physical activity is particularly important after age 65 as it enables you to maintain muscle mass critical for supporting the skeleton, maintaining immune function and ensuring you are able to perform everyday tasks easily. Aerobic activities such as brisk walking, running or swimming are beneficial for maintaining fitness and overall wellbeing. Yoga, aerobics, weight or strength training promotes bone and muscle strength as well as balance and flexibility. Older adults should aim to do some form of physical activity every day to keep healthy. The Australian Physical Activity Guidelines for Older Australians (65 years and older) state older people should accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on most days (reference).