A survey has stated that in Singapore, the elderly are not eating right. Malnutrition risk varying from moderate to a high level is faced by three out of 10 people.

It was found that with age the risk of malnutrition also increases and this was proved when about 421 relatively healthy elderly people aged 50 years and above were surveyed.

The survey that was conducted from February to March showed that the Health Promotion Board's diet recommendations were met by only one per cent of the elderly respondents. Abbott, a global healthcare company, conducted the survey.

There were many who did not eat foods containing important things like fiber, calcium and carbohydrates.

It was also shown that there was a high risk of malnutrition among those who resided in one and two-room HDB flats. Those who live in private apartments and condominiums also face the same predicament.

Dr Chan Kin Wing, a Senior Consultant Geriatrician with the Gleneagles Medical Centre, said, "I think this is very significant - three in 10 is about 30 per cent. If we were to look in terms of absolute numbers, we are looking at almost
300,000 older people who are at risk."

Due to malnutrition, old people are more prone to falls and fractures, affecting their level of independence and adding to healthcare costs.