HESI Health Assessment Practice Test 2025 – All-in-One Study Guide for Exam Success!

Slowed gastrointestinal motility significantly impacts the nutritional status of the elderly. As people age, the movement of food through the digestive tract can slow down, leading to various complications such as constipation and discomfort. This change can affect appetite and eating habits, potentially leading to decreased food intake. Inadequate food intake can result in malnutrition, as essential nutrients may not be consumed in sufficient quantities. Additionally, slowed motility can contribute to digestive issues that may discourage elderly individuals from eating a balanced diet.

Other options, while related to gastrointestinal health, do not have the same direct and significant impact on nutritional status. Hyperstimulation of the salivary glands is generally not a common physiological change in older adults. The increased sensitivity to spicy and aromatic foods may vary among individuals, but it is not a universal physiological change. Decreased gastrointestinal absorption is a concern related to various conditions in the elderly, but it does not encompass the broader aspects of nutritional status as directly as gastrointestinal motility.