Rapid Weight Loss In Elderly Woman

Sudden unintentional weight loss in the elderly can signify a number of underlying medical concerns.

Rapid weight loss in elderly woman. It follows that unexplained weight loss in an older person almost always is a marker of an underlying illness. Here the weight loss was more subtle but still clinically significant. When it comes to weight loss in the elderly watch for a few key warning signs.

If weight loss becomes significant however and especially if it is rapid it can indicate serious issues. Depression sudden weight loss can be associated with depression social withdrawal or loss of a will to live. 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.

Rapid unintentional weight loss in elderly is usually indicative of underlying disease and accelerates the muscle loss which normally occurs with aging. 1 elders are disproportionately impacted. Sometimes a specific cause isn t found.

Muscle loss or muscle wasting can lead to unexpected weight loss the major symptom is muscle weakness. Intentional weight loss even when excess fat mass is targeted also includes accelerated muscle loss which has been shown in older persons to correlate negatively with functional capacity for. Unintentional weight loss often signals serious pathology.

In fact according to a report in american family physician unintentional weight loss which is defined as dropping more than 5 percent of your body weight in six to 12 months occurs in 15 to 20 percent of older adults and is linked to an. Unexplained weight loss has many causes medical and nonmedical. You are good to point out that it is first of all important to discover the cause s and not jump to conclusions or a solution before really delving in.

Especially if an older adult is living on his her own far away from adult children who can help and monitor. Loss of smell and taste though a normal part of the aging process loss of these senses can be worsened by medication or disease which can result in anorexia. Often a combination of things results in a general decline in your health and a related weight loss.