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E-Newsletter • April 2026 |
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Editor's E-Note
When Age Matters
What determines response to a given dietary, pharmacological, or other treatment approach? Life stage is one of the most important variables impacting individual outcomes across the board. In this month’s E-News Exclusive, we look at how older adults—an underrepresented group in studies evaluating antiobesity medications and their effects—may respond to these drugs and what dietitians and other providers may need to consider when managing their care.
After reading the article, visit TD’s website at www.TodaysDietitian.com to read the digital edition of our March/April issue, featuring our cover story, “The Fight for Fair Wages.” You’ll also find features on inflammatory bowel disease and our annual TD10 celebration of 10 RDs across the country who are making an exceptional impact.
Please enjoy the E-Newsletter and give us your feedback at TDeditor@gvpub.com, and don’t forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter.
— Heather Davis, MS, RDN, LDN, editor |
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Antiobesity Medication Risks in Older Adults
By Heather Davis, MS, RDN, LDN
As next generation antiobesity medications (AOMs) take the culture by storm, many providers and researchers are asking an important question: how are distinct subsets of the population differently impacted by these drugs? The answers to this question may help dietitians better understand which patients may be more susceptible, for example, to gastrointestinal side effects and other nutrition-related concerns.
There are relatively larger gaps in the research concerning the effects of AOMs on older adults, aged 65 and up. One recent systematic review, published in late 2025 in Obesity (Silver Spring), compiled data from experimental studies (five secondary analyses of randomized clinical trial data and one single-arm trial) and two observational studies with participants all older than 65 years. Experimental studies included patients with obesity and prediabetes or CVD. All studies found statistically significant weight reduction between intervention and placebo groups or compared with baseline weight. However, authors—including first author, Yale School of Medicine’s Alissa Chen, MD, MPH—note that older adults had a higher prevalence of gastrointestinal adverse events when taking AOMs. Another finding was that people discontinued taking the medication more often.1
In an interview with Chen, she emphasized that older adults may be prone to adverse events that may interact with other medications they take, which could result in a severe downstream effect. For example, “There is a potential increased risk of falls among older adults taking glucagonlike peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) due to dehydration,” she says.2
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As the study outlines, aging-related changes in the autonomic nervous system, use of other medications, and arterial stiffness put older adults at risk for orthostatic hypotension. Decreased oral intake from gastrointestinal side effects of semaglutide and tirzepatide may exacerbate this, leading to orthostatic hypotension and falls.1
Kasia Lipska, MD, MHS, BS, and senior author of the study points out that obesity in older adults “deserves its own science rather than being treated as a simple extension of midlife obesity.” The effects of aging on metabolism, including those related to muscle and bone mass, pain and inflammation, mobility, and overall functional capacity, may alter how older individuals respond to AOMs. 2
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Food Literacy Program Helps Rural, Uninsured Patients With Diabetes Build Healthy Eating Skills
A recent study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, published by Elsevier, examined the impact of a Food is Medicine (FIM) and food literacy education program on rural, uninsured adults with type 2 diabetes. Findings suggest that even when educational programs are effective overall, additional cultural tailoring may be needed to ensure that all participants benefit equally.
Researchers evaluated changes in participants’ food literacy using a validated assessment tool before and after the intervention. Findings showed that overall food literacy scores improved significantly following participation in the program, suggesting that education focused on building food-related knowledge and practical skills may help individuals better navigate food choices and prepare healthy meals.
Cooking Efficiently for Better Nutrition
Researchers at the University of Seville’s Food Colour and Quality Laboratory have studied the effects of different cooking methods used for tomatoes and carrots (in the oven, microwave or air fryer, amongst others) on the amount of carotenoids that are potentially available for absorption by the body following the digestion of these foods. According to the study, the bioavailability index varies significantly depending on how these foods are cooked.
In the case of carrots, the bioavailability of total carotenoids increased ninefold when cooked in the oven. For tomatoes, the highest bioavailability values were obtained by cooking them in either an air fryer (190 °C for 10 minutes) or a conventional oven (180 °C for 20 minutes). There was no significant differences between the two methods. Although the increase in bioavailability was more modest (a 1.5-fold increase), it was also significant compared with raw tomatoes.
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CPE Monthly
In the March/April issue of Today’s Dietitian, learn about the research related to alpha-gal syndrome. Read the CPE Monthly article, take the 10-question online test at CE.TodaysDietitian.com/CPEmonthly, and earn two CPEUs!
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In the May/June Issue
• The Role of Nutrition in Endometriosis
• Emulsifiers, Dysphagia, and Gut Health
• Interdisciplinary Care Starts Here
• Promoting Agricultural Resilience |
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COVER STORY
The Fight for Fair Wages
RDs discuss what has long been considered “the elephant in the room” in dietetics: inadequate compensation and institutional imbalance that threaten long-term viability of the profession. Read more about what some are saying is required to make a change.
FEATURE
A New Consensus on Dietary Therapy for IBD
A consensus statement released last fall by the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation reviewed the body of evidence for dietary therapies for inducing and maintaining remission. RDs offer insight on the changes and implications for clinical practice.
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