Weight Loss In Elderly Person

Weight loss is a key symptom of depression and mental illness.

Weight loss in elderly person. But they are already in the best range of bmi for their age with the lowest risk of mortality. Here the weight loss was more subtle but still clinically significant. 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.

Other symptoms of depression include. And weight loss in older adults can lead to muscle loss. 27 of frail elders over the age of 65 experience involuntary weight loss.

Often present in people with bipolar personality and anxiety disorders weight loss is a crucial symptom of mental illness. 2 most practitioners and researchers define unintentional weight loss as a. Decreased ability to perform activities of daily living adls.

One is to bring in a weight record showing how the older person s weight has changed over the past several months. This can lead to poor appetite and eventually weight loss. It follows that unexplained weight loss in an older person almost always is a marker of an underlying illness.

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. Muscle loss is exacerbated by rapid weight loss which can cause serious obstacles to maintaining mobility and independence for seniors. As more people including elderly are overweight or obese weight loss is recommended to improve health.

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. How you can help doctors evaluate weight loss.