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The World Health Organization's Decade of Healthy Aging began in 2020. This article focuses on nutrition's role in healthy aging with examples of older adult nutrition programs in Canada, the European Union, and the United States, including work of the Canadian Malnutrition Task Force, the European Malnutrition in the Elderly Knowledge Hub, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs. These programs have integrated screening for frailty and malnutrition into older adult care across the spectrum of settings, which has become increasingly important during the global COVID-19 pandemic. This article demonstrates the important role of nutrition in promoting healthy aging.

This article explores the risks and benefits of 2 therapies for adults with severe or morbid obesity and type 2 diabetes: bariatric surgery (with special attention to the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass) or conventional medical therapy, which relies on nutrition, physical activity, lifestyle changes, and hypoglycemic medication. The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass remains the most advantageous surgically in terms of glycemic control and weight loss, with lesser adverse effects on nutrient absorption and non-weight related quality of life. Although bariatric surgery may be useful to varying degrees for achieving glycemic control and potential diabetes remission, patients still must adhere to elements of conventional medical therapy if gains in glycemic control are to continue postoperatively.

It is complicated to ascertain the composition and prevalence of the use of highly fortified food and supplement products (HFPs) because HFP foods and HFP supplements have different labeling requirements. However, HFPs (energy bars, energy drinks, sports drinks, protein bars, energy shots, and fortified foods/beverages) are popular in the United States. A web-based survey balanced to reflect US census data was used to describe their use in a sample of 2,355 US adults >18 yr in 2011 and trends in their use from 2005. In 2011, 33% of adults reported using HFP; use was significantly higher among males, African Americans, Hispanics, and more highly educated individuals (e.g. some college or more) and those

Adults with Down syndrome often need help to keep their weights at healthy levels, and yet the prevention and treatment of overweight among them are rarely addressed. This article provides a brief review of the problem and recommendations to overcome the many barriers to maintaining healthy weight and eating patterns encountered by persons with Down syndrome and their families. The primary causes of their weight problems are environmental; degree of intellectual disability and congenital conditions play lesser roles. Nutr Today. 2014;49(3):109Y119

Milk and other dairy products are an important part of the human diet, but some people believe that they are harmful. This article explores some of these beliefs, examines the scientific evidence, and gives suggestions so that nutritionists can help consumers make informed decisions. The topics include lactose intolerance, raw milk, pasteurization, milk and mucus, milk and asthma, milk and allergies, and recombinant bovine growth hormone. Many people believe that lactose-intolerant individuals should not consume milk or dairy products, but in fact lactose tolerance varies, and drastic dietary restrictions may not be needed. Others believe that if someone has once suffered from lactose intolerance, that person always will. The fact is that a person’s tolerance can change over time. In addition, self-diagnosis of lactose intolerance is often incorrect. Some people drink raw milk rather than pasteurized milk because they believe it is healthier and safer and that pasteurization destroys beneficial things in milk. These beliefs are all false, and in fact, raw milk poses a significant health risk. There are other beliefs that exist surround milk and its effect on the respiratory tract and allergies. The facts are that milk does not cause increased mucus production, nor does it cause or worsen allergies or asthma. Some members of the public fear that the hormones in milk can affect the humans who drink it, but this is false. Belief in many of the mistaken notions outlined in this article is widespread and pervasive in the United States at present. Even health professionals often accept such fallacies as truth. Health professionals can play an important role in dispelling these nutritionmythsthroughnutritioneducationandcounseling.

The most recent representative large national sample of the eating habits of infants and young children is the Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS 2002), a large national sample of infants and toddlers 4 to 24 months of age performed by Mathematica Policy Inc and sponsored by Gerber Products Company, now part of Nestle. Researchers of FITS 2002 collected data on the eating habits, food choices, portion sizes, and dietary intakes of 3022 infants and toddlers within the age parameters of the study. Nutrient intakes, food consumption patterns, eating habits, and food choices were compared with healthy-eating recommendations. The 2008 Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS 2008), also sponsored by Gerber, was an updated and expanded version of the prior study on the intakes of 3378 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers younger than 5 years. It described the current feeding and consumption patterns of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers; identified any changes since 2002; and compared them with current recommendations.