Malnutrition awareness and its determinants among Chinese older adults

Findings from a cross-sectional survey

Bibliographic Data

ID22083648
AuthorsFangzhou Li (0000-0001-8959-595X, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University), Jingmei Zhang (0000-0003-4250-9430, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University), Difei Wu (0000-0001-5463-2992, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University), Xiyan Yu (Zhejiang Chinese Medical University), Xujiao Chen (0000-0002-1354-1194, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume13
Pages1638285-1638285
Publication date2025-08-20
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2025.1638285
PMID40910045
OpenAlexW4413343248
LanguageEN
References cited34

Background Malnutrition is a prevalent but underrecognized health issue among older adults in China. Inadequate awareness may delay detection and intervention, especially in cognitively vulnerable populations. To assess the level of malnutrition awareness and its association with sociodemographic, cognitive, and nutritional factors in a representative sample of older Chinese adults. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 1,227 individuals aged ≥60 years in Zhejiang Province. Malnutrition awareness was measured using a validated 7-item questionnaire. Cognitive status, nutritional risk, frailty, sarcopenia risk, and fall risk were assessed using standard tools. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of awareness. Results Overall, 49.1% of participants demonstrated adequate malnutrition awareness. While most recognized general nutrition concepts (93.5%) and protein supplementation (92.7%), awareness of psychosocial risk factors (e.g., depression) was limited (41.7%). Higher awareness was significantly associated with higher education (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.23–1.55), cohabitation (OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.13–1.56), and better cognitive function ( p < 0.0001). Age, BMI, and frailty were not independent predictors. Conclusion Malnutrition awareness among older Chinese adults remains suboptimal, particularly regarding psychological contributors. Targeted education strategies should be stratified by cognitive ability and living context to bridge awareness gaps and support national healthy aging initiatives

Cognition · Cross-sectional study · Environmental health · Logistic regression · Malnutrition · Marital status · Population · Psychiatry · Psychosocial · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Frailty in Older Adults · Medicine · Nutrition and Health in Aging · Gerontology

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