Abstract: A primer for college students in nursing, medicine, health education, psychology, home economics, and allied health professions presents an introduction to the role of nutrition in the aging process. Topics include an overview of the biological theories of aging; a demographical profile of the US elderly population; nationalstatus of the aged; nutritional requirements of older people and the biocultural basis of geriatric nutrition; therelationship of nutrition to aging and disease; and society's programmatic response to nutrition problems of theelderly. A discussion of the likelihood of a national nutrition policy concerning aging and the elderly is also included. Information sources in geriatric nutrition and recommended daily dietary allowances are appended. (wz).
