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Increasing protein consumption in older adults: facilitators, barriers, and practical solutions Rachael Best (24167694) PUREID: 495872643 Dietary protein requirements are believed to increase with age. Yet older adults often fail to meet the dietary requirements for protein. Few studies have investigated reasons for inadequate protein intake in free-living older adults, or tried to increase protein intake within this population. Therefore the aim of this research was to investigate potential facilitators, barriers, and practical solutions to increasing protein consumption in older adults. These aims were addressed using a number of different research methodologies. Numerous facilitators and barriers to consumption of high-protein foods were identified using focus groups with free-living older adults. A questionnaire was designed to determine the relative importance of facilitators and barriers identified in the focus groups in relation to frequency of consumption of high-protein foods. Based on the results of these studies and previous research, three factors were selected for further investigation in relation to protein consumption in older adults. These were; taste, texture, and knowledge and beliefs about protein. Taste was investigated by comparing the effects of seasonings and sauces added to meals on protein intake. Texture was investigated by manipulating the texture of meat and comparing the effects of perceived texture of meat on protein intake. Knowledge and beliefs about protein were investigated using an independent groups pretest - posttest design in which the effects of newsletters containing protein information on knowledge and beliefs about protein and protein intake was compared between groups. The addition of flavoursome foods to meals significantly increased protein intake in free-living older adults, indicating that taste may be particularly important in relation to increasing protein intake in older adults. In contrast, softening the texture of food had no effect on protein intake in free-living older adults, and therefore is unlikely to be an effective practical solution to increasing protein intake in healthy, free-living older adults. Knowledge and beliefs about protein significantly improved following the provision of nutrition newsletters containing information about protein. However, improving knowledge and beliefs about protein did not significantly increase protein intake in free-living older adults. Therefore it could be argued that attempts to increase protein intake in free-living older adults should focus on taste, as attempts to increase protein intake based on food texture and knowledge and beliefs are unlikely to be successful. However, this research was conducted with only a small sample of the older population, who were predominantly female, independent, and in good health. Therefore findings from this research cannot be generalized to other groups within the older population, for example, institutionalized older adults, or those who are physically disabled or chronically ill. However, findings from this research indicate that there are many possible facilitators and barriers to protein intake still to be explored. Given the negative effects of inadequate protein intake in older people, these facilitators and barriers should be explored further and considered in attempts to improve protein intake in older individuals. Practical solutions aimed at addressing multiple barriers to protein intake could be promising in regard to increasing protein intake in free-living older adults. 2026-10-01T16:49:52Z Text Thesis 10.17034/32637474.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/thesis/Increasing_protein_consumption_in_older_adults_facilitators_barriers_and_practical_solutions/32637474 All Rights Reserved