Tips for Health and Longevity: My Take on the Evidence

Malnutrition is a significant health burden within the elderly population, yet is often side-lined due to the global obesity epidemic. By 2040 it is estimated that 1 in 7 people in the UK will be aged over 75 years [1] therefore its prevalence is only likely to increase. A recent study by Söderström et al. stated that malnutrition increases risk of morbidity and mortality within older adults  [2] . Conducting wider research into this association and possible methods of nutritional assessment it has been concluded that screening of hospital admissions should be a high priority to ensure individualised nutritional care plans can be implemented as early as possible to improve disease outcomes. It is estimated that one third of over 65s in the UK are suffering from, or at risk of, malnutrition when admitted to hospital [3] , with this figure predicted to rise as the population ages  [4] . Malnutrition is defined as “a state in which a deficiency of nutrients such as energy, protein,

Diabetes is the fastest growing health threat in the UK, with it being estimated that 5 million people in the UK will suffer by 2025 [1], yet it is well known that making lifestyle changes can delay or prevent onset of type 2 diabetes. A recent study conducted by von Frankenberg et al. suggested that adhering to a high fat diet decreases insulin sensitivity in obese and overweight individuals, and that this could be associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes  [2] . From discussing this conclusion within the wider literature, it has been concluded that a diet adhering to UK recommendations, with 35% of energy intake from fat and no more than 11% from saturated fat , without excess daily energy intake, may be the most practical dietary advice to give to reduce risk of type 2 diabetes within the general population. Non-insulin dependent, or type 2, diabetes mellitus is considered one of the most common global chronic health problems and accounts for 90% of all cases of diabe