Programa de educación e intervención nutricional para adultos mayores: reduciendo el impacto de la sarcopenia

Abstract

The project develops a nutritional education and intervention program aimed at older adults to reduce the impact of sarcopenia on their quality of life. It is proposed that adequate education on nutrition and healthy habits can improve muscle strength and functional independence in this group. To this end, an educational program focused on the importance of nutrition in the prevention of sarcopenia was designed, with practical workshops and support materials. The study was carried out in a care center for older adults in Guayaquil, with a sample of 36 participants. Dynamometry, bioimpedance, and walking speed tests were used to assess the degree of sarcopenia before and after the intervention. In addition, nutritional knowledge questionnaires were applied before and after the program. The results showed that more than half of the participants had probable sarcopenia before the program. After the intervention, all participants improved their knowledge about nutrition, suggesting a positive impact of the educational program. It is concluded that nutritional education is an effective strategy to improve the quality of life in older adults and it is recommended to extend the duration of the program to reinforce its impact. Keywords: Sarcopenia, geriatric nutrition, nutritional education, healthy eating.