Poorer diet quality and food diversity; lower fruit, vegetable, and meat intake; increased risk for weight loss, frailty reported<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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THURSDAY, Dec. 4, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Significant negative outcomes are seen for older adults who eat alone, including poorer diet quality and food diversity and an increased risk for weight loss and frailty, according to a study published in the February issue of Appetite<\/em>.<\/p>\n Caitlin Wyman, from Flinders University in Australia, and colleagues conducted a systematic review to examine the association between nutritional and physical outcomes of older adults (65 years and older) who eat alone versus eating with others. Twenty-four publications were identified from four databases: 19 cross-sectional, four cohort, and one case-control study.<\/p>\n The researchers found that five studies reported no negative associations between eating alone and outcomes of nutritional status, dietary intake, appetite, body mass index, weight loss, muscle mass, and\/or frailty. In the remaining studies, there were significant negative outcomes for those who ate alone, with poorer diet quality and food diversity; lower fruit, vegetable, and meat intake; and an elevated risk for weight loss and frailty.<\/p>\n “By recognizing the link between social isolation and nutrition, health professionals can connect older adults with community meal programs or social dining opportunities that have the potential to make a real difference,” coauthor Alison Yaxley, Ph.D., also from Flinders University, said in a statement.<\/p>\n