Is Weight Loss Common Among Seniors?

Is Weight Loss Common Among Seniors?
Sometimes Yes, Sometimes No.

If you’re a senior who’s experiencing unintentional weight loss, or know a senior who is, it may be due to the natural aging process, but also may be due to a number of other factors of which you should be aware.

Unintentional weight loss is common among older adults and is associated with significant adverse health outcomes, increased mortality, and progressive disability. Estimates suggest 13.3% of the population experiences unintentional weight loss, and up to 7% experiences a loss exceeding 5% of baseline weight. Elders are disproportionately impacted; 27% of frail elders over the age of 65 experience involuntary weight loss.

The diagnosis is often associated with an underlying illness; however, in as many as one in four older adults with unintentional weight loss, no obvious medical cause can be identified. The most common approach to the treatment of weight loss among older adults is consumption of high-energy/protein oral supplements between meals as a means of increasing daily energy intake. Involving other health professionals, including a dietitian, may be helpful in the assessment and management plan. In addition, a number of pharmacologic treatments have been investigated, but the potential benefit of these treatments remains unclear.

Clinically significant weight loss is typically defined as a decrease of 5% or more of usual body weight over six to twelve months. After the age of 70, some weight loss may be attributed to the aging process itself. The decline in body weight experienced with age is quite small, and seniors should be careful not to dismiss weight loss as natural without carefully ruling out other medical and social causes.

The causes of weight loss among older adults frequently depend on the presence of underlying health problems and/or poor nutritional status. Although up to one in four seniors experiencing weight loss present no identifiable cause, weight loss is often a symptom of one or more diagnosed or undiagnosed illnesses (the most common being depression and gastrointestinal illnesses, e.g., peptic ulcer disease or motility disorders, and cancer). Medication side effects such as anorexia, dry mouth, dysgeusia, dysphagia, and nausea can also contribute significantly to weight loss among older adults, as can social problems such as poverty and isolation.

Once weight loss has been established, older individuals should undergo a complete physical examination, screening lab tests, and evaluation, using common assessment tools for prevalent disorders such as dementia and depression. When no evidence of an organic disorder is present, weight loss due to primary malnutrition (i.e., resulting from inadequate food intake) must be considered as a contributor. The routine use of nutritional screening tools, especially those that are solely questionnaire-based and can be completed by the senior or a primary caregiver, provides an effective way to identify those at the greatest nutritional risk and may aid in timely treatment. If you notice a senior loved one experiencing a high level of weight loss, be sure to mention it to their doctor and pay special attention to the senior’s nutrition intake.

 

BLOG Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Writer: Ryan Allen