1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 30
Summary
Adults 60 and older typically eat 16% to 20% fewer calories than younger adults, a pattern researchers say is common with aging.
Nearly 60 studies underpin that finding, while experts point to age-related hormonal shifts—especially lower ghrelin production or a weaker response to it—as a key reason appetite fades.
Barbara Rolls of Penn State said appetite and fullness are shaped by multiple factors, making it hard to pinpoint any single cause in an individual.
The explanation helps answer why many people in their 60s report getting full faster and no longer being able to eat as much as they once did.