Last updated on 11-3-2025 by Laïla Boulbayem
Why do we study the risk for malnutrition in older adults?
- Malnutrition is a frequent condition in older adults.
- It is characterised by a lack of essential nutrients and can be caused by a reduced access to nutritious food, a loss of appetite, a lack of ability to chew and swallow or increased use of medication.
- People with overweight can also be at risk for malnutrition.
- Malnutrition can lead to reduced muscle strength, increased risk of falling, decrease in resistance, slower recovery times, possible hospitalisations and re-hospitalisations.
- These symptoms have physical and psychological consequences that can lead to a reduced quality of life.
How do we study it?
- We asked participants aged 65 years and above to complete a standardised questionnaire known as the self-Mini Nutritional Assessment (self-MNA). This self-administered tool consists of 6 questions related to self-perception on health and nutrition.
- A screening score ≥ 12 corresponds to a normal nutritional status; between 8 and 11 points subjects are considered at risk of malnutrition; below 8 points subjects are considered malnourished.
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include institutionalised (including those in care homes) or hospitalised individuals, or those who could not be interviewed without assistance (e.g., individuals with dementia).
Key results
2% of older adults are malnourished.
29% of older adults are at risk for malnutrition.
Women have more chance to be malnourished than men (3% vs 0.5%).
Women have a higher ‘risk for malnutrition’ than men (35% vs 23%).
The risk for malnutrition is higher in Wallonia (38%), compared to Flanders (27%) and Brussels (25%).
Risk for malnutrition by sex
Distribution of the Belgian population aged 65 years and above according to nutritional status, by sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex and socioeconomic status.
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include institutionalised (including those in care homes) or hospitalised individuals, or those who could not be interviewed without assistance (e.g., individuals with dementia).
Risk for malnutrition by educational level
- In Belgium, 2% of the population aged 65 years and above is malnourished, 29% is at risk for malnutrition and 69% have a normal nutritional status.
- Women have more chance to be malnourished than men (3% vs 0.5%).
- Women also have a higher ‘risk for malnutrition’ than men (35% vs 23%).
Distribution of the Belgian population aged 65 years and above according to nutritional status, by educational level, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex and socioeconomic status.
- Older adults (65 and above years) do not include institutionalised (including those in care homes) or hospitalised individuals, or those who could not be interviewed without assistance (e.g., individuals with dementia).
- The education level is calculated at the household level by considering the highest diploma obtained by: (i) the respondents or their partner for adults (aged 18 years and above), or (ii) the father and mother (or carer, if applicable) for children and adolescents (aged 3 to 17 years). However, for simplicity, we refer to the education level of individuals rather than the education level of their households.
Risk for malnutrition by region
- Malnutrition and risk for malnutrition are more frequent in individuals with the lowest education level. However, due to the low sample size in the malnutrition group, these differences are not significant and could be due to chance.
Distribution of the Belgian population aged 65 years and above according to nutritional status, by region, Belgium: 2022-2023
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex and socioeconomic status.
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include institutionalised (including those in care homes) or hospitalised individuals, or those who could not be interviewed without assistance (e.g., individuals with dementia).
- In Brussels, five percent of the individuals aged 65 years and above are malnourished.
- The risk for malnutrition is significantly higher for those living in Wallonia (38%), compared to those living in Flanders (27%) or Brussels (25%).
Please cite this page as: Sciensano. Weight status and eating disorders: Risk for malnutrition in older adults, Food Consumption Survey 2022-2023, June 2024, Brussels, Belgium,https://www.sciensano.be/en/results-food-consumption-survey-2022-2023/weight-status-and-eating-disorders/risk-malnutrition-older-adults