Undereating and undernutrition in old age: integrating bio-psychosocial aspects.

Much emphasis is placed on the importance of good diet, usually in the context of concern about the health hazards of obesity [1]. Paradoxically, many elderly people are underweight and undernourished, as a result of a combination of age-related physical, social and psychological factors. This so-called 'failure to thrive' [2] or 'anorexia of the elderly' [3] is associated with morbidity and increased mortality. Active identification and nutritional support improve clinical outcome.