Hello! I work as a doctor for 21 years. My name is George O. Sapego. This article will tell you about weight loss in the elderly, and what's wrong.
We have already discussed with you the story of the fragile elderly people who need to eat better. Approximately 7 out of 10 elderly people who were hospitalized in the hospital, find nutritional deficiencies. Such patients are more likely to die.
Improper diet can be and obese people. Here we will discuss more. Let's talk about malnutrition. To make such a diagnosis is necessary that there are two or more sign of the following six criteria:
- insufficient caloric intake (now or before the old man ate little);
- weight loss (the old man for a long time already eats little and therefore lost);
- loss of muscle mass;
- loss of subcutaneous fat;
- fluid retention (it may mask the loss of weight);
- reduced muscle strength (it is necessary to measure a dynamometer, or something else).
Weight
It is necessary to weigh the grandparents on the scales. If the elderly can not stand on the floor scales, that is, sit-scale, or even bed-scales. The weight should not be less than 80% of the recommended at special tables.
What is good and what is bad
If the weight is reduced for some reason, the old man with a high probability can die.
Well - this is when body mass index at the old man within 25 - 30And he did not lose weight.
Excess weight does not add health. If the body mass index in old above 30, It is also a bad influence on life expectancy.
When you need to smell a rat
If the weight is dropped:
- more than 2% in the last month;
- more than 5% over the past 3 months;
- more than 10% over the last 6 months.
What is the difference from the young
These young people can lose weight, and then show off the waist. For the elderly this number does not pass. Old people from losing weight instantly slacken and much harder to get sick.
I wonder if the old man did not feed, he then did not want to eat. It did not work with the young.
Old people easily vicious cycle starts when they are little to eat, lose weight, suffer from the disease and lose their appetite. Then all this is very difficult to restore.
Causes of weight loss
Many of us have difficulty losing weight and had difficulty supporting the weight. Old people are usually easier and worse. Here are the reasons for the sudden weight loss:
- low calorie nutrition;
- loss of appetite;
- loss of muscle mass;
Low calorie food
Usually it's just a little food. On the amount of food influenced by social factors, psyche, illness.
social factors
Usually this isolation. Older people often live alone. From this reduces the need for a normal meal. They just do not get pleasure from a good meal at the table. Interception piece of bread, and that they have enough.
Conducted special studies, and found that if someone nearby is sitting, the elderly for one meal eat more.
Finance
The pension does not allow to live in grand style. It's not up to delicacies.
mind
There often depression. It discourages appetite.
disease
Here most oncology.
Trouble swallowing. We discussed this in the article about normal aging. If the old man constantly poperhivaetsya and gags, then once again there he no longer wants.
Loss of appetite
People in principle with age less exercise and spend less energy. Even worse senses work. Smell and taste are no longer so attractive.
Another appetite affects a lot of different diseases.
cachexia
This loss of muscle and fat. This is not an age issue. Rather, it is the action of the disease. Some inflammation, which resets the metabolism. It is said that the old man at the same time "burned" or "melting".
sarcopenia
This loss of muscle mass with age. After 80 years of sarcopenia are half the people. They have little hormones, not enough physical activity. From this it reduces the amount of muscle, and the elderly is becoming weaker.
In this topic a bunch more just. If interested, please write in the comments. Put huskies, subscribe to my RSS feed and read my articles on related topics:
senile fragility
How to improve the tone of the old people
What is considered normal aging
A breakdown in the elderly person
