disorders of nutrition
Obesity
Obesity in Older Adults
In the United States, the percentage of older adults who have obesity has been increasing. Obesity in older adults is a concern because excess weight increases the risk of certain health problems that tend to become more common as people age: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) , cancer, abnormal levels of fats (lipids) in the blood ( Several age-related changes contribute to gaining weight: Decreased physical activity:Some reasons for decreased activity are related to aging. They include retiring, becoming physically unable to exercise, developing disorders that make movement painful (such as arthritis), and having problems with balance. Other factors may also limit physical activity. For example, people may not want to walk because there are no sidewalks, there is too much traffic, or safety concerns. Loss of muscle tissue:Muscle tissue is lost partly because levels of growth hormone and sex hormones (estrogenin women andtestosteronein men) decrease. But the main reason older adults lose muscle tissue is physical inactivity. The less muscle tissue people have, the fewer calories their body burns when resting and the easier it is to gain weight. Increased body fat:When the amount of muscle tissue decreases, the percentage of fat in the body increases. Fat tissue burns fewer calories. Also, the higher percentage of fat means that older adults with a normal body mass index (BMI), which is based only on weight and height, may have a higher risk of weight-related health problems than expected. Waist circumference predicts health risks better than BMI in older adults. With aging, body fat tends to shift to the waist. Fat that accumulates around the waist and abdomen (as opposed to the hips and thighs) increases the risk of health problems, such as High Blood Pressure , For older adults who need to lose weight, doctors recommend increasing physical activity and changing the diet. Physical activity improves muscle strength, endurance, and overall well-being and reduces the risk of developing chronic disorders such as Diabetes Mellitus (DM) . Activity should include strength training and endurance exercises. Older adults are at greater risk of Undernutrition than younger people. Therefore, when they try to lose weight, they should be sure to consume a healthy and balanced diet. may be useful for older adults with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) or Whether weight loss in older adults has health risks is controversial. Doctors help older adults devise weight-loss strategies based on their individual circumstances. In older adults, weight loss is best supervised by a doctor. 