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Stomach bigger than eyes
Residents eat more when served larger portions .
In somewhat of a reversal of the ‘ eyes bigger than one ’ s
stomach ’ idiom , aged care residents eat more when given bigger portion sizes .
That was the key finding from a University of South Australia study .
Researcher Hei Tong Lau and colleagues looked at ways to improve the nutrition and health status of older Australians living in a residential aged care facility and tested the effectiveness of a range of interventions , like music and scent .
The team found that portion size was highly correlated with the amount of food residents consumed – to a greater degree than the environmental factors explored .
Lau said : “ In Australia , up to 70 per cent of elderly people living in aged care facilities are suffering from malnutrition , the primary reason for which is inadequate food intake .
“ To improve this , we must find ways to encourage older people to eat more . And while there has been a justified focus on the food itself – including look , taste and texture – we have been concentrating on other factors that can improve the food experience , within a real-world aged care facility .”
Over a seven-week period , the food intake of 31 residents was recorded once a week , both under a control and a cueenhanced setting .
The study found that for each kilojoule increase in served energy there was a 0.73 kilojoule increase in consumed energy .
Lau said the findings provide valuable insights for aged care chefs , caterers and providers .
“ Increasing serving sizes may seem like a small step , but for residents who need the nutrition , it ’ s a massive move forward .” ■
Act before it ’ s too late .
2021
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