The present study was designed to assess the nutritional status of the housebound and to compare their dietary intakes with those of more active old people. For this comparison the results of two surveys were available: elderly people on the list of a large group practice in the London borough of Camden; residents of two local authority residential homes for elderly people in Hertfordshire. It is clear that in this section of the population an important problem is likely to exist: restriction of physical activity, boredom and loneliness are believed to be conducive to impaired nutrition.