Rapid Unintentional Weight Loss In Elderly
Unexplained weight loss or losing weight without trying can be a cause for concern.
Rapid unintentional weight loss in elderly. Although sometimes the cause of unintentional weight loss in elderly adults goes undiscovered it may be a sign of an underlying medical condition. Estimates suggest 13 3 of the population experiences unintentional weight loss and up to 7 experiences a loss exceeding 5 of baseline weight. It might indicate an underlying condition.
Unexplained weight loss can be from various conditions including gut disease diabetes depression or cancer. Unintentional weight loss sudden noticeable weight loss can happen after a stressful event although it can also be a sign of a serious illness. 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.
A good rule of thumb is to see your doctor if you ve. Rapid unintentional weight loss in elderly is usually indicative of underlying disease and accelerates the muscle loss which normally occurs with aging. The point at which unexplained weight loss becomes a medical concern is not exact.
27 of frail elders over the age of 65 experience involuntary weight loss. Unintentional weight loss often signals serious pathology. It follows that unexplained weight loss in an older person almost always is a marker of an underlying illness.
It s normal to lose a noticeable amount of weight after the stress of changing jobs divorce redundancy or bereavement. 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. Common causes of unintentional weight loss in seniors.
Here are 6 possible causes of sudden rapid weight loss. If your family member is experiencing rapid weight loss don t ignore it. Here the weight loss was more subtle but still clinically significant.