Weight Loss In Very Elderly
When an older person has lost weight involuntarily it is important to identify and treat any underlying conditions.
Weight loss in very elderly. To lose weight and keep it off for a lifetime you must first find a weight loss program that suits your needs and can guide you through the necessary lifestyle changes. There are several reasons this can occur in seniors including the natural aging process. Your body is made of fat mass and.
Side effects of medications are very common and imminently treatable causes of. 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. Most medical professionals define unintentional weight loss as a 5 10 decrease in body weight over 1 to 12 months and more specifically a 5 loss over a 6 month period.
As a result other symptoms may include fainting chest pain an irregular or racing heartbeat blurry vision dizziness confusion difficulty tolerating cold temperatures and sudden weight loss. One of your limbs may even look smaller than the other. There are various loss of appetite causes especially in the elderly.
A doctor should always be involved in healthcare related decisions and a doctor can work very well in conjunction with caregivers to solve the problem of unintentional weight loss in seniors. 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. Muscle loss or muscle wasting can lead to unexpected weight loss the major symptom is muscle weakness.
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. The current framework prescribed by the medical community is to identify underlying causes and treat those and then to give nutritional support in. Accurate evaluation is essential however because this problem is associated with increased morbidity and mortality.
Loss of appetite causes in the elderly.