New research from Flinders University has shown that older adults who routinely eat their meals alone tend to have poorer nutrition and less favourable health outcomes than those who share food with others. The study, a systematic review published in Appetite, drew together evidence from 20 international investigations examining how solitary eating affects measurable health indicators among people aged 65 and over living independently in the community. Across these studies, the researchers consistently observed links between eating alone and reduced diet quality, including lower consumption of essential food groups such as fruit, vegetables and meat, as well as a heightened risk of unintended weight loss and frailty.
The lead author, Caitlin Wyman—an Accredited Practising Dietitian and PhD candidate at the Caring Futures Institute—emphasises that the findings underline the social significance of shared meals for older adults. She notes that food offers far more than nutrition alone, describing mealtimes as critical social occasions that influence appetite, dietary variety and overall wellbeing. Although earlier research had already connected loneliness and social isolation with diminished food intake, this review is the first to clearly examine the broader nutritional and physical consequences of eating alone compared with eating in company.
Drawing on data from more than 80,000 older adults across 12 countries, the team found wide-ranging implications of mealtime social settings. While a handful of studies reported little difference in outcomes, the majority demonstrated that solitary eaters tended to make poorer food choices and consume less protein, a macronutrient crucial for maintaining muscle mass and functional ability in later life. In some cases, eating alone was also linked with a greater likelihood of weight loss and an increased risk of frailty, both of which can severely impact independence and long-term health.
According to the authors, these patterns suggest that mealtime behaviour may be a modifiable risk factor for poor nutrition in older age, particularly within Australia’s rapidly ageing population. Wyman explains that although age-related changes, such as reduced hunger cues and altered taste perceptions, are well known, the social aspects of eating are equally influential. She argues that shared meals support not only nourishment but also connection and enjoyment, and that encouraging opportunities for communal dining—whether with relatives, friends or through community initiatives—could meaningfully improve food intake and quality of life for older adults living at home.
Co-author Dr Alison Yaxley, also an Accredited Practising Dietitian at Flinders University, adds that the findings highlight the value of integrating simple social and nutritional screening into routine primary and aged care. Asking straightforward questions about mealtime habits could help clinicians identify individuals at greater nutritional risk, allowing them to be referred to community meal programmes or social dining opportunities that could substantially improve their well-being.
The researchers note that community-based initiatives such as neighbourhood dining groups, intergenerational meal schemes and partnerships with local cafés might help reduce the prevalence of solitary eating among older Australians. Wyman points out that recent aged-care reforms provide a timely opening to embed food and nutrition more centrally within home-based care services, helping to optimise both nutritional status and overall health in an expanding older population. Nevertheless, she stresses that further research is needed to determine which strategies are most effective at encouraging regular shared meals and how they can be best implemented in real-world community settings.
More information: Caitlin Wyman et al, Associations between nutritional and physical outcomes of community-dwelling older adults eating alone, versus with others: A systematic review, Appetite. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2025.108327
Journal information: Appetite Provided by Flinders University
