How Does Age Affect Our Eating Habits?

Appetite is not a fixed quantity. It changes throughout our lives. And a better understanding of the different phases of age can help us develop new ways to deal with malnutrition and excessive consumption , experts say.

These are the seven main stages that a person goes through:

• The first decade, 0-10 years

In childhood, the body goes through rapid growth and eating habits, built then, can continue into adulthood. During this period, it is important that children do not deprive themselves of healthy foods, such as vegetables. They need to have some control, especially over the amount of food they eat. Forcing parents to eat everything can lead to a loss of their ability to follow their own appetite. There are growing calls for governments to protect young children from advertising junk food - not only on television, but also in apps, social networks and blogs - as these advertisements increase the desire to eat unhealthy foods, which can contribute to being overweight. and diseases in children.

• The second decade, 10-20 years

Appetite increases with the onset of puberty. The formation of eating habits during this critical period determines the lifestyle in later years. This means that the food choices that adolescents make are inextricably linked to the health of future generations who will later become parents. Unfortunately, without guidance, teens can acquire dietary preferences associated with unhealthy consequences. Young women are more likely to suffer from eating disorders than young men because of their reproductive biology. 

• The third decade, 20-30 years

As young adults, changes in our lifestyle - such as going to university, family life or living with a partner, as well as parenting - can increase the risk of gaining weight. Once they accumulate, body fat is difficult to reduce. The body sends strong signals of appetite when we consume less of our energy needs. However, the signals to prevent overeating are weaker, which can lead to overconsumption. There are many physiological and psychological factors that make eating healthy more difficult over time. The stress we experience in our 20s and 30s helps us eat unhealthy foods.

• The fourth decade, 30-40 years

Our working lives as adults lead to other challenges, such as coping with shortness of breath and the effects of stress, which change the appetite and eating habits of 80% of the population, evenly distributed between those who increase and those who lose their appetite. Other personality traits, such as perfectionism, may also play a role in eating behavior. Structuring in the work environment to reduce problematic eating patterns is a challenge. Employers should seek to subsidize and promote better nutrition for a productive and healthy workforce, along with ways to manage stress and stressful situations.

• The fifth decade, 40-50 years

There is a lot of evidence that strict diets are a major contributor to poor health. The World Health Organization emphasizes smoking, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and alcohol problems as major impacts on health and mortality. Between the ages of 40 and 50, people need to change their behavior, as the symptoms of the disease are often invisible - such as high blood pressure or cholesterol levels.

• The sixth decade, 50-60 years

After the age of 50, we begin to suffer from a gradual loss of muscle mass, between 0.5-1% per year. This is called sarcopenia, it reduces physical activity, consumes too little protein, and menopause in women accelerates this reduction in muscle mass. A healthy and varied diet and physical activity are important for the effects of aging.

A protein-rich breakfast can be an ideal way to increase your total protein intake in older people.

• The seventh decade, 60-70 years and more

A major challenge today, with increasing life expectancy, is to maintain quality of life. In the later stages of life, adequate nutrition is even more important for maintaining good health. It is also important because old age leads to poor appetite and lack of appetite, which causes involuntary weight loss and greater weakness. Food is not just fuel, nutrition is a social and cultural experience. Therefore, we must strive to enjoy it and reap the positive effects it has on our health.