Weight Management in Older Adults
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Weight Management in Older Adults

 

           Body Mass Indexes that fall into either the overweight or obese category have been increasing steadily over the past few decades, reaching the point that being overweight or obese has reached epidemic numbers worldwide. Adults over the age of sixty now account for about one-third of the obese population.

            The Body Mass Index is used to classify weights into the categories of underweight, healthy, overweight, and obese. BMI is calculated by your height and weight. A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is categorized as healthy, from 25 to 29.9 is overweight, and a BMI of 30 or higher is the obese category.

            With a higher BMI, there are consequences to your overall health. There are a whole slew of medical issues that are commonly associated with being overweight or obese, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, decreased mobility, kidney disease, increased joint pain, increased risk of heart disease, high cholesterol, depression, sleep apnea, some cancers, and more. Obesity is now recognized by the American Medical Association as a disease in its own right, not just a condition with increased health risk.

            The causes of overweightness and obesity are many. Food choices and a sedentary lifestyle certainly both contribute, but there are a number of other factors. Genetics, mental health, cultural and environmental factors all bear some responsibility. Because overweightness and obesity are complex conditions, the treatment is similarly complex.

            A loss of weight as small as 5 to 10% of your body weight can result in lower blood pressure, better sleeping, more energy, and a better mindset.