Loneliness Worsens Diet Quality in Older Adults.

In 2025, Elena Freire Paz and a team from the University of Santiago de Compostela studied 25 older adults in Spain (Galicia and Extremadura) using interviews and home observations from November 2024 to April 2025. They explored how loneliness affects eating habits, focusing on food choices, cooking routines, and meal enjoyment.

Loneliness led to less nutritious diets in 80% of participants, with fewer fruits, vegetables, and home-cooked meals, increasing risks of malnutrition by 20-30%. Missing shared meals lowered quality of life, with 70% reporting emotional loss from eating alone, worsened by gender and income differences.

Join community meal programs or share dinners with family to improve diet and well-being.