An initiative has been launched after it was revealed up to one in ten older Scots may suffer from the condition

One in ten older adults in Scotland are suffering from malnutrition.

A new nationwide initiative to tackle malnutrition among the elderly has been launched.

The Eat Well Age Well initiative has been launched in response to estimates from the malnutrition taskforce which suggest up to 96,000 elderly Scots are not eating enough or properly.

The project is being led by Food Train, who recognised an urgent need for action after listening to their customers describe the barriers that prevent them to maintain a healthy diet: such as frailty, loneliness and an inability to access care services they require.

The charity will work in collaboration with a wide range of groups including other voluntary sector representatives, local and national government, health professionals and communities, to develop initiatives that will focus on the prevention, detection and treatment of malnutrition and dehydration.

Food Train chief executive Michelle Carruthers said: "Today, almost 100,000 older Scots living at home are at risk of becoming malnourished, or are already malnourished.

“For the last 23 years, Food Train volunteers have been supporting older people to access food, through supported shopping, meal provision and befriending activities. Thanks to support from Big Lottery Fund, our new Eat Well Age Well project will work collaboratively across Scotland to build solutions, and improve the lives of older people living at home."

Eat Well Age Well project manager Laura Cairns said: "We have the drive, motivation and ability to raise awareness of this issue and are committed to working with others in the public, third and private sector to ensure a nation-wide approach.

“We will test new ways of helping older people to eat well, support others who wish to test their own ideas through a small grants programme, and share our learning across the UK alongside the Malnutrition Task Force."