I do agree with all the attention paid to diets and micro dieting... And reducing sugar /fat intake is in general obviously beneficial... But... (and playing devil's advocate a bit)
First of all, I love my food and at times of restricted activity through injury/illness I find I enjoy it even more. Bacon sandwiches, curries, chocolate puddings...Sunday dinners, the whole gambit. I don't smoke or drink (OK, occasional medicanal whisky) but eating is one of life's pleasures. When others are on hold I invariably think stuff it... In my mouth. There is a balance.
Secondly and more importantly... How many people as they get older find themselves with heart/circulation or some such issue. Most I, d guess. Then many say to themselves.. Right lose weight and get fit...
To my mind that's already problematic.
To lose weight you must eat less than your body requires, simple really. If you don't your body will not start utilising the reserves its laid down over last few decades. You must be under nourished to produce weight loss.
And then you start putting demands on your body to get fit.
Something must give. You, ve got some illness, you are under nourished, still overweight and then wondering why you can't perform like you did 2 or 3 decades ago. Well you weren't this heavy, you weren't ill and you were eating properly. And you were enjoying your food.
I, m not suggesting what I do is best, far from it. I, m in regular guilt thinking I, ve either eaten too much or wrong stuff, with wife and medically trained daughter saying you should not eat this or that... But I can not bike, train, run or sail with my condition and diet at same time. It doesn't compute.
When inactive I cut back, eat fruit, loads of veg, no butter, cream or puddings and aim at losing some weight. Once active... you get the idea. And stay same weight. And enjoy my food.
I, m firmly in flecc's camp on this. I, d rather enjoy my remaining time than worry about prolonging it by not doing things I love. (that includes eating)