The Psychology of Nutrition with Advancing Age: Focus on Food Neophobia.

Emmy Van Den Heuvel,Katherine Appleton,Annie Newbury

doi:10.3390/nu11010151

Abstract

Many factors impact on eating behaviour and nutritional status in older adults. Strategies can be suggested to combat the impact of these factors, including the development of novel food products, but food neophobia (“the reluctance to eat and/or avoidance of novel foods”) may be a barrier to the acceptance of these foods/products. This work aimed to investigate associations between food neophobia, physical disadvantage, and demographic characteristics in adults over 55 years old. Cross-sectional data from 377 older adults was analysed for relationships between food neophobia scores and physical disadvantage (denture wearing, help with food shopping and/or preparing, and risk of sarcopenia), controlling for age group, gender, living status, education, and employment level. Initial analyses demonstrated higher food neophobia scores in association with denture wearing (Beta = 0.186, p = 0.001). However, when demographic characteristics were also considered, food neophobia scores were no longer related to denture wearing (Beta = 0.069, p = 0.226) but instead were related to a higher age, living alone, and a shorter education (smallest Beta = −0.104, p = 0.048). Food neophobia may thus act as a barrier to the consumption of novel foods/products in those who are of higher age, are living alone, and have a shorter education.

Highlights

The prevalence in the UK of malnutrition or being at risk of malnutrition is estimated to extend to over 3 million people, with the majority (93%) of those at risk of malnutrition living in the community [1]
Initial analyses showed that denture wearing was associated with higher food neophobia scores, or a higher reluctance to try novel foods, but when demographic characteristics were considered, this relationship disappeared, and food neophobia was instead related to a higher age, living alone, and shorter education
These findings suggest that the relationship between denture wearing and food neophobia is at least in part a result of high levels of denture wearing in individuals who are older, are living alone, and/or experienced a shorter education

Summary

Introduction

The prevalence in the UK of malnutrition or being at risk of malnutrition is estimated to extend to over 3 million people, with the majority (93%) of those at risk of malnutrition living in the community [1]. It has been reported that energy intake decreases by 25% from the age of 40 to 70 years old [2]. Many factors that contribute to reduced energy intakes are considered. Appetite and sensory abilities are known to reduce with age, while physical disabilities that can impact eating, food preparation, and food procurement can increase with age [2,6,7,8]. Physiological changes in dentition, oral and chewing abilities, gut motility and function, as well as physical changes in manual dexterity, physical balance and strength can impact eating, food preparation, and food procurement [2,6,7,8]. There may be more psychological factors that influence food choice, including health implications and issues such as ethical concerns, body-weight concerns, Nutrients 2019, 11, 151; doi:10.3390/nu11010151 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients

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