OPAP
Investigating how eating style may affect food intake in adults aged 65 years and older.
What is the purpose of the study?
The aim of this study is to investigate if the way we eat impacts what we eat, focusing in adults 65 or over years old.
We know that as individuals age, a number of physiological changes occur to their bodies. These can include changes in the mouth (for examples changes in teeth/dentures, saliva, muscle strength etc) which may affect chewing, appetite and hunger. Such changes will vary between people and may lead to reduced intake of some foods which could also reduce intake of important nutrients for example protein, fibre, whole grain products, fruits and vegetables. In some cases, if food intake is very poor, this can lead to significant adverse health outcomes.
Currently, there is no research on how eating style may affect food intake in adults aged 65+ years. We aim to investigate how food is manipulated in the mouth, the role of teeth/dentures and saliva, how quickly the stomach empties of food after eating; and any influence this all has on food choice.
Who can participate in this study?
We are looking for volunteers who
- Are 65+ years old
- Are able to eat and drink without assistance
- Are not currently undergoing treatment for cancer
- Are not diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes
- Do not have any current chewing or swallowing difficulties (such as dysphagia)
- Do have partial or full natural teeth in place
You will receive an initial screening telephone call in order to assess your eligibility to participate. If you choose to take part, you will be asked to attend one visit (“test day”), at the Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition at the University of Reading. The visit will last around 5 to 5.5 hours in total.
For enquiries, please contact nutritionvolunteers@reading.ac.uk