Risks Of Weight Loss In Elderly

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.

Risks of weight loss in elderly. So the reality is that promoting weight loss to normal. Rapid unintentional weight loss in elderly is usually indicative of underlying disease and accelerates the muscle loss which normally occurs with aging. Muscle loss is exacerbated by rapid weight loss which can cause serious obstacles to maintaining mobility and independence for seniors.

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 increased risk of hospitalization and death. The leading causes of involuntary weight loss are depression especially in residents of. Fortunately most of the time doctors can easily.

Furthermore aging is known to result in a physiological loss of lbm 10 and weight loss in general is associated with increased risks of adverse outcomes including death in older people. Elderly patients with unintentional weight loss are at higher risk for infection depression and death. Sudden unintentional weight loss in the elderly can signify a number of underlying medical concerns.

But they are already in the best range of bmi for their age with the lowest risk of mortality. Weight loss can cause real health consequences such as weakness sagging skin which leaves room for infection and injury and may even put bone health at risk since heavier people tend to have stronger bones. And weight loss in older adults can lead to muscle loss.

Middle aged and elderly adults who gain or lose a moderate to large amount of weight defined as a 10 percent change in weight may have an increased risk of death particularly from. Older adults have less muscle to start with we ll dive into that soon. Health risks are decreased in overweight children and adults by dieting and exercise but the health benefits of weight loss in elderly particularly by calorie restriction are uncertain.

As more people including elderly are overweight or obese weight loss is recommended to improve health.