FitFood+

One of the many challenges in the aging process is the progressive loss of muscle mass and strength. This phenomenon, known as 'sarcopenia', can lead to functional and mobility limitations that make older people more likely to fall and/or become immobile. To combat sarcopenia in elderly people living at home, guidelines were developed in the previous PWO project FitFood+ (2019-2021) for optimizing and coordinating the nutrition and exercise policy in the Flemish local service centers (LDCs). During the implementation of the project, it turned out that there are major differences between the LDCs in terms of operation and organizational options. In a follow-up project we wish to investigate how we can accommodate this diversity. This, so that service centers can implement an optimal nutrition and exercise policy in their operation, taking into account their own possibilities. Pilot actions are being set up for this in consultation with the LDCs. These actions may relate to screening methods for sarcopenia, nutritional policy, exercise policy or a combination of both. Based on the implementation and evaluation of the various pilot actions, the guidelines from the previous FitFood+ project will be expanded and adapted to support the Flemish local service centers in setting up an optimal nutrition and exercise policy for the prevention of sarcopenia.

Keywords:health, seniors, nutrition

Disciplines:Dietetics and molecular nutrition, Nutrition and dietetics not elsewhere classified, Public health nutrition

Project type:Collaboration project