It’s National Nutrition Month, and the American Dietetic Association is urging all Americans to consider what they put into their bodies.

Nutrition becomes an increasingly important consideration with age. As people age, their bodies can develop deficiencies in nutrients such as calcium.

At the same time, obesity can be a complicating factor to the healthcare needs of people older than age 60. According to a 2008 study of more than 3,000 people, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Chinese researchers found a higher body mass index was associated with lower physical activity and the presence of chronic disease. Women appeared to be at a greater risk for obesity than men.

Perhaps the best weight-related indicator of health is accumulation of abdominal fat. Abdominal obesity is linked to cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia. In terms of lifestyle, nursing home admission was closely associated with obesity, according to a 2009 study in the American Dietetics Association Journal.

That study recommended a conscious shift in diet to lose 1 to 1.5 pounds per week. A 500 to 750 reduction in overall calorie consumption was recommended.

Nutritional breakdown should be 40 to 60 percent calories from carbohydrates (breads, grains and produce), 15 to 30 percent from protein (meat and eggs), and 25 to 30 percent from fat (butter and oils).

To offset loss in muscle mass during weight loss, the study recommended consuming 1 to 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body mass.

Vitamin D and B12 supplements were also suggested, due to low levels of those vitamins in older adults. The National Osteoperosis Foundation recommends 800 to 1,000 International Units per day of vitamin D to adults 50 years of age and older.

For more information about nutrition, Bonney Lake Senior Center will be hosting nutrition seminar 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, run by a nutritionist from Right At Home senior home care.