Older people briefing

Key points:

• The number of older people (over 65s) in Scotland is growing, and now accounts for 19% of the total Scottish population
• People in Scotland are living for longer; however, they are also experiencing more years spent in poor health
• In Scotland, 73% of people aged 65-74 and 66% of people aged 75+ live with overweight and
  obesity. These rates are higher than in the general adult population (62%)
• There are a number of obesity risk factors specific to older people, including: low physical activity levels, poor diet quality, and natural biological processes such as reduction in metabolic rate
• The health risks associated with obesity increase with age
• Obesity has many detrimental impacts upon older people, such as: impaired mobility, increased risk of respiratory diseases, bone and joint diseases, dementia, and a decreased number of healthy life years
• There are a number of policies in Scotland aimed at reducing overweight and obesity levels in older people; local and Scottish governments should build on them.

Key recommended actions:

• The implementation of actions to improve food and physical activity environments to prevent weight gain across the life course
• Create a food environment which supports healthy dietary options for all, including older adults, through policy and regulation that tackles the availability, affordability and accessibility of a healthy diet
• Promote affordable and appropriate physical activity opportunities for all, including older adults
• The Scottish Government should ensure that opportunities for weight management and early detection of type 2 diabetes services are accessible to the older adult
• The Scottish Government should adopt the WHO definition of malnutrition, and should include the whole spectrum of malnutrition (including overweight and obesity) in any policies targeting malnutrition or diet in older people in Scotland.