
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, May 22, 1990                   TAG: 9005220601
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

SURVEY FINDS ELDERLY OFTEN SKIP MEALS

Most elderly Americans know they need a sensible diet to stay healthy, but one in five skips at least one meal a day.

A survey released today also found that 45 percent of senior citizens take multiple prescription drugs, which can affect appetite or absorption of nutrients.

Also, one out of four surveyed had a household income under $10,000 a year.

Yet, while about 85 percent said a healthy diet plays an important role in preventing and recovering from illness, only 18 percent said they worried a lot about a proper diet and more than a third said they don't worry at all.

The survey was released by the Nutrition Screening Initiative, a five-year project launched by a coalition of medical, health care and aging groups.

by CNB