Nutrients

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Nutrition and Health Throughout the Lifespan

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Dr. Guillermo Garcia-Perez-De-Sevilla

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Guest Editor

Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, Spain
Interests: nutrition; lifestyle; children’s health; children’s development; interventions to promote a healthy lifestyle
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Margarita Pérez-Ruiz

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Guest Editor

ImFINE Research Group, Department of Health and Human Performance, Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte, INEF Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: nutrition; oxygen consumption; chronic pathology; cystic fibrosis; lifestyle; biomarkers

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, entitled “Nutrition and Health Throughout the Lifespan”, aims to explore the role of dietary patterns and nutritional recommendations in supporting health at different stages of life. Rather than focusing on restrictive diets, we welcome contributions that highlight how balanced, evidence-based nutrition can promote growth, development, and overall wellbeing from childhood to older adulthood. We welcome submissions to this Special Issue that address a wide range of topics, including nutrient adequacy, dietary guidelines, eating behaviors, and culturally adapted approaches that foster long-term health. We are particularly interested in research that bridges the gap between nutrition science and practical health outcomes across the lifespan. Articles are invited to examine the influence of nutrition on physical and cognitive development in children and adolescents, the impact of dietary choices on disease prevention and performance in young and middle-aged adults, and the role of nutrition in maintaining functional capacity and quality of life in aging populations. Both original research and comprehensive reviews are encouraged to be submitted to this Special Issue, with an emphasis on translational findings that inform public health policies and clinical practice.

Dr. Guillermo Garcia-Perez-De-Sevilla
Prof. Dr. Margarita Pérez-Ruiz
Guest Editors

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Review

22 pages, 897 KB

Open AccessReview

Digital and Technology-Based Nutrition Interventions, Including Medically Tailored Meals (MTMs) for Older Adults in the U.S.—A Scoping Review

by Nishat Tabassum, Lesli Biediger-Friedman, Cassandra Johnson, Michelle Lane and Seanna Marceaux

Nutrients 2026, 18(3), 385; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18030385 - 24 Jan 2026

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Abstract

Background/Objectives: Older adults often face nutrition challenges due to mobility issues, chronic conditions, and limited access to adequate nutrition. Digital and technology-based interventions, including those with nutrition education, nutrition counseling and Medically Tailored Meals [MTMs], can help address these barriers. However, the extent and characteristics of such programs in the United States remain unclear. This scoping review aimed to map the existing evidence on digital and technology-based (“digi-tech”) nutrition interventions for older adults in the United States, with particular attention to the presence, characteristics, and gaps related to MTMs. Methods: This scoping review followed the PRISMA-ScR framework to map existing evidence on technology-enabled nutrition care interventions for older adults aged ≥ 60 years in the United States. Systematic searches were conducted across multiple databases, yielding 18,177 records. Following title and abstract screening, full-text review, and eligibility assessment, 16 intervention studies were included. Study designs comprised randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental and non-randomized studies, mixed-methods feasibility studies, pilot studies, and one retrospective longitudinal cohort study. Data were extracted on study design, population characteristics, intervention components, technology modalities, outcomes, feasibility, acceptability, and reported barriers. Results: Interventions varied in duration [8 weeks to ≥12 months] and content. Foci ranged from remote nutrition education and mobile app-based tracking to multicomponent interventions integrating exercise, nutrition counseling, health literacy, and meal delivery. Telehealth was the most commonly used technology modality, followed by mobile health applications, wearable devices, and online educational platforms. Most interventions reported high feasibility and acceptability, with improvements in diet quality, adherence to healthy eating patterns, clinical measures such as HbA1c and blood pressure, and functional performance. Common implementation barriers included declining technology use over time, digi-tech literacy, and access to devices or the internet. Notably, no studies evaluated a digi-tech-based MTMs intervention exclusively for older adults in the U.S. Conclusions: Digital and technology-based nutrition interventions show promise for improving dietary and health outcomes in older adults, but there is insufficient empirical evidence. Future research might develop and evaluate hybrid digi-tech intervention models that leverage the potential of digi-tech tools while addressing barriers to technology adoption among older adults. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition and Health Throughout the Lifespan)

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