Major Weight Loss In Elderly

It follows that unexplained weight loss in an older person almost always is a marker of an underlying illness.

Major weight loss in elderly. For doctors unintended weight loss is a major red flag when it comes to the health of an older person. 1 elders are disproportionately impacted. Elderly patients with unintentional weight loss are at higher risk for infection depression and death.

2 most practitioners and researchers define unintentional weight loss as a. Unintentional weight loss often signals serious pathology. Estimates suggest 13 3 of the population experiences unintentional weight loss and up to 7 experiences a loss exceeding 5 of baseline weight.

Here the weight loss was more subtle but still clinically significant. Unintentional weight loss i e more than a 5 reduction in body weight within six to 12 months occurs in 15 to 20 of older adults and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality 1 in. This enables us to spot weight loss sooner rather than later.

27 of frail elders over the age of 65 experience involuntary weight loss. You spend much of your life trying to keep your weight down but with age shedding pounds can be cause for concern rather than celebration.