Nutrition and healthy functioning in the developing world

There is a general lack of data for studying the relationship between nutri tion and healthy functioning among the elderly in developing countries. Nev ertheless, knowledge of biological relationships from studies in other coun tries can be applied to gain an understanding of what can be expected in th e developing world. In this respect, the concept of the nutrition transitio n is important. However, nutrition transition as related to elderly populat ions in developing countries has not yet been adequately studied. The devel oping world is not homogeneous with respect to patterns of nutritional stat us among the elderly, and problems of both under- and overnutrition exist a mong different populations of the elderly and both will be important factor s for future functional status levels. In addition, there are many extrinsi c factors (such as socioeconomic, political and cultural factors) in these countries that are even more important in determining nutritional status an d its relation to function. Unless research and policy development in devel oping countries escalate and keep pace with the nutrition and demographic t ransitions in these countries, high levels of disability and dependency are likely in the near future.