Why thousands of OAPs need to feast on cream and fry-ups

pensioners who are underweight should be encouraged to put cream in their coffee and fry rather than grill their food, experts say.

some 1.3million over-65s are at risk of malnutrition or are already suffering from eating too little food.

in an era of rising obesity rates, and a push for healthier diets, many people believe fatty food should be avoided at all costs.

But experts today warn that this focus is putting many elderly people at risk.

simon Gabe, president of the British Association for parenteral and enteral nutrition, said: ‘The general advice for those with malnutrition or for those at risk is to maximise their food intake. You can have cream in your coffee instead of milk, fry instead of grill, add butter to your scrambled eggs, give that chicken an extra brush of oil before putting it in the oven and stock up on cakes.’

Dr Gabe, a consultant in gastroenterology at st Mark’s Hospital in north London, added: ‘Malnutrition is a hidden problem in the UK but awareness, prevention and detection are key to reducing its prevalence.

‘For too long, the public have been given health messages focused on reducing levels of obesity and, while obesity is a huge problem, for the malnourished the best thing to do is ignore these messages entirely and seek professional advice.’

A poll published today reveals 45 per cent of British adults wrongly believe that losing weight in later life is normal, when in fact unintended weight loss can be a sign of malnutrition.

And four in ten believe high-calorie foods such as biscuits and cakes should be avoided even if you are underweight. experts warned it is especially hard to spot malnutrition in winter, when people wear big thick coats in the cold.

More subtle tell-tell signs include loose rings, dentures and clothes.

Dr Gabe said: ‘people should consult their doctor before making any drastic changes to their diet, particularly if they have a preexisting medical condition and special dietary requirements.’

Three million people are malnourished in the UK including 1.3million over 65s.