Effectiveness of preventive nutrition programs for seniors living at home: review of the literature and guidelines

This literature review examines preventive nutritional interventions for community-dwelling older adults, based on the analysis of 26 selected articles published between 2010 and 2023. The most effective interventions combine: specific nutritional advice, adapted physical activity recommendations, and practical workshops. The majority of studies (19/20) included dietary counselling, with some targeting specific aspects such as fruit and vegetable consumption or the Mediterranean diet. Fourteen studies combined this advice with physical activity recommendations, with programs ranging from 10 minutes several times a day to 150 minutes of moderate activity per week. Intervention formats were either in-person (9/20), hybrid (10/20) combining face-to-face and telemonitored follow-up, or entirely telemonitored (1/20). Practical workshops, present in 11 interventions, included cooking workshops, discussion sessions, food diversification exercises and supervised physical activities. Results suggest that specific dietary advice is more effective than general recommendations, particularly when personalized and combined with physical activity. The hybrid format shows promising results for improving eating behaviors and physical activity. This review emphasizes the importance of adapting interventions to individual needs and the psychosocial context of older adults to ensure their engagement and program effectiveness.