Fat Science author Robin Toomath shares her opinion

Robyn Toomath: The statistics show that being overweight isn’t harmful for those over 75. Obesity-related problems like diabetes, heart and liver disease mean that many won’t make that age. An older person needs to work hard to maintain muscle mass, and weight loss results in the loss of fat AND muscle so as long as a person is mobile I don’t think they should worry about being fat. That’s not the same as saying we should eat junk. Good nutrition is important for tissue repair so high quality protein and fresh vegetables are as important as ever. The issue of course is cost and my guess is that many pensioners struggle to afford the food they need and like busy working parents of young families will be seduced by the convenience and cheapness of processed food…