From the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, rates of life expectancy at birth increased throughout the world. In developed countries long life is almost a certainty, and very long life increasingly probable. Nutrition has been a key determinant of these gains in health and it now takes on a special importance for the well-being of elderly people who are surviving in greater and greater numbers. This authoritative report provides information on all aspects of nutrition in the elderly. It is sponsored by the World Health Organization and will be useful to physicians, nutritionists, medical students, and those involved in a variety of other health sciences.