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More malnourished elderly individuals due to poor food intake
Posted on: 16/Sep/2014 2:15:33 PM
According to a recent study, it is found that most senior citizens who walk in to the hospitals are malnourished because of poor food intake. And they are mostly depressed too.
The current scenario in Chennai is in-line with the study results found by the University of North Carolina which states most of the elderly individuals who get admitted in hospitals are malnourished or at the edge of getting malnourished.
The study was conducted on 141 elderly individuals who visited the emergency wards of hospitals in two months time period. Out of this population, 60 per cent were lacking proper nourishment.
In worst cases of malnutrition, patients were found depressed. According to geriatrician Dr V S Natarajan, 40 per cent of elderly individuals live in urban areas while the remaining live in rural places. Among this volume, those living in rural areas are more prone to live isolated and face financial constraints. For example: when they loose their teeth, they choose to have liquid food rather than fixing dentures. This in turn leads to malnourishment, the doctor pointed. One major reason behind malnutrition is economic insecurity, problems with their dental health, depression and isolation.
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