摘要：Older adults’ nutrition status is a public health concern because of its role in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, which attack a great proportion of elderly population. Despite the importance of nutrition status in the health-disease process, a great number of elders suffer malnutrition (undernutrition or overweight/obesity), and this problem increases mortality and morbidity risk and health costs as well. This situation is developing in the context of demographic transition and health systems’ crisis. Health systems probably won’t be able to support a population with multiple health and nutrition problems. The objective of this essay is to present a reflection about the nutrition status as a public health problem, which will be stated in different sections: the importance of nutrition in older adults, the demographic transition and its implications in health-disease process and nutrition status and, finally, the health system crisis.
