Why Do My Elderly Parents Eat So Much Junk Food?

Category: Health | Published on: 02/18/25

why do my elderly parents eat so much junk food

It's natural for family members to become concerned when they notice their senior loved one eating too much junk food, processed food, or sugary food. It's also true that we are what we eat, and our diets become especially important as we age and manage other health conditions.

If you're wondering why your elderly parents eat so much junk food, pay attention- there's probably a reason that needs to be addressed. The sooner you get to the heart of the matter, the sooner you can begin integrating healthier foods into their diet so they enjoy a balance of foods they love with foods that will sustain a higher quality of life.

5 Reasons Seniors Gravitate Toward Junk Food

For seniors to live as able-bodied and independently as possible, they must be nourished with healthy foods that sustain cognitive function, build strong bones, and maintain a healthy weight. However, it's not uncommon for adults 65 and over, especially those who cannot drive anymore or live alone, to gravitate toward junk foods or sugary foods.

In many cases, ensuring your senior loved one has regular access to fresh, healthy foods that align with any physician-recommended dietary focuses is one of the best things you can do to help them enjoy a higher quality daily life.

We recommend starting a conversation free of judgment or frustration and rich with curiosity about what may have changed in their lives. In some cases, you may get straightforward answers. They may even admit that they're old, acknowledge they're closer to dying and want to enjoy the foods they love. However, you might also determine or intuit that there's more to the story.

Here are some common reasons worth investigating. Your loved ones' healthcare provider may also have valuable insight.

An underlying health condition such as type 2 diabetes

Certain health conditions can cause sugar cravings, and one of those is type 2 diabetes. If your loved one hasn't been diagnosed with type 2 and you're noticing a significant uptake of sugary Foods, this is something worth investigating. The same is true if your loved one has an existing type 2 diabetes diagnosis; increased sugar intake could be a sign that they're not managing their blood sugar balance correctly.

Other symptoms of type 2 diabetes include:

Increased thirst
Increased urination
Waking at night to urinate
Unexplained or unusual fatigue
Recent unintentional weight loss often due to loss of muscle mass
Weakness
Blurred vision
Numbness or tingling sensation in hands and/or feet
Frequent infections or slower-healing wounds
Increased appetite and hunger (often including intense sugar cravings)

Cognitive decline related to Alzheimer's or dementia

Cognitive decline likely plays a role in what they choose to eat. If your loved one has Alzheimer's, dementia, Parkinson's, or other health conditions that include cognitive decline, this can impact a person's diet. following recipes or remembering what constitutes a healthy meal may be part of the problem. This means their hunger cues are quickly answered by reaching for what's easy, what tastes good, or what isn't rotten and that typically means junk food.

Also, brain changes from dementia also affect pleasure sensors. However, it doesn’t eliminate the “high” associated with sugar. This increases their interest in eating sweets and can cause significant health deficits if they don’t have proper meal support.

The reality is that any diagnosis of dementia-related condition should immediately trigger a long-term care plan, including assistance from experienced caregivers who can increase their services as the disease progresses. In the meantime, you can rest assured that your loved one has access to things like Aaron running or having their meals provided for them.

Comfort eating ( are they lonely, depressed, or anxious?)

Many people underestimate the risk seniors face of feeling lonely, depressed, or anxious. In addition to age-related physical changes that can prevent them from enjoying their normal daily activities, seniors are often grappling with significant loss, including the death of their spouse or partner as well as former colleagues or members of their close peer group.

We are all susceptible to comfort eating, and if you live alone or your social life has significantly diminished, it's not unusual to spend more time around the house snacking on comfort foods - which tend to be more junk food than healthy food in nature.

They're unable to drive to a store or shop for healthy food

If your loved one can no longer drive safely or doesn't have the stamina to run errands, including going to the grocery store, they will opt for shelf-stable foods. Unfortunately, this typically leads to a diet primarily focused on foods that are unhealthily high in sodium, sugar, and preservatives. This can eventually lead to senior malnutrition.

Many Bay Area organizations are dedicated to ensuring the senior population has access to healthy meals and snacks every day. This includes things like scheduling Meals on Wheels to be delivered or working with a local licensed caregiving agency to provide part-time or full-time support to ensure your loved one has support with running errands, grocery shopping, preparing healthy meals, and any other services that can keep them living safely and independently.

They lack the stamina or ability to meet their daily needs

One of the most significant red flags that loved ones need support to remain safely and independently in their home is the inability to meet daily needs. Sometimes, this is due to specific medical conditions or mobility issues. Other times, it may be related to cognitive decline, as mentioned above.

However, more often than not, it's just a simple lack of stamina accompanying aging. Even with a healthy diet, moderate exercise, and regular social engagement, sometimes loved ones just begin to wind down.

This can show up in a variety of ways, but some of the most common are:

A struggle to do their laundry regularly
Evidence of bumps or bruises that may indicate they are losing their balance or falling more often
Pantries that seem more bare than full or contain more processed foods than fresh fruits, vegetables, and perishable healthy snacks.
A less-than-tidy house.
Evidence that personal hygiene may have slipped or that toileting issues may have become a problem.

If you notice any of these signs in your aging parent or grandparent, now is the time to get serious about creating plans and strategies that will keep them healthy, vibrant, and in their own homes if that's what they wish. Consulting with local licensed caregiving agencies is an excellent way to learn more about what's available.

HomeAide Home Care Ensures Clients Enjoy Healthy, Delicious Meals

The caregivers at HomeAide Home Care often begin their journey with our clients by visiting once, twice, or three times a week to check in, deliver groceries or run errands, support medication management, and prepare delicious, nutritious meals that can be quickly heated and eaten later. As our clients’ needs progress, we upgrade our services to accommodate that - always doing our best to bring joy and meaning into their daily lives.