Answer:

Hello and thank you for your question. The problem and the answer to your question are complex. As people age they normally eat less and less food. Usually this is a physiological change--their bodies simply require fewer calories, though it is sometimes because they are ill, because they are depressed about the death of friends or family members, or are unhappy about growing older.

Elderly people's bodies change in ways that cause them to lose muscle and fat, partly because of hormonal changes and because elderly people are often less physically active than when they were young, and muscles which are not used get smaller and weaker. Older people who are physically active, who use their bodies and their muscles and who eat regular meals with a variety of different foods do not weaken and are not malnourished. True malnutrition in the elderly is almost always a result of some illness or medical problem, and often responds very well to treatment of the medical problem or to improvement in depression or mood disorders. If someone you know seems malnourished, be sure that person sees a doctor, because there is often an effective treatment for the underlying problem which causes the malnutrition. Good doctors of traditional Chinese medicine can also help an older person is is not eating well, and treatments by Western and traditional Chinese doctors can often be given at the same time. Please tell your friends about our websites-- we would be happy to answer their questions too. And check both our sites -- www.healthno1.com and www.nutritionno1.com for more information on health and nutrition.

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