(Taiwan English News / Zhu Mingzhu comprehensive foreign report) Don’t be too happy when you lose weight! Losing weight among seniors may increase the risk of death due to underlying health problems such as cancer and dementia, according to an Australian study. The study was published in the “JAMA Online Open Edition Journal” on the 10th.
The study involved nearly 17,000 Australians over the age of 70 and more than 2,000 Americans over the age of 65. The researchers analyzed their annual health checkup data from 2010 to 2014, excluding those with cardiovascular disease, heart failure, and heart disease. People with intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, and chronic diseases, as well as patients who have recently been admitted to the hospital for treatment, that is to say, these subjects are all healthy seniors.
The results showed that, for men, if the weight loss was 5-10% and more than 10%, the risk of death increased by 33% and 289%, respectively, while for women, if the weight loss was 5-10% and more than 10%, the mortality rate increased by 26% and 114%, respectively. %.
Dr Monira Hussain, a clinical epidemiologist and public senior researcher at Monash University in Australia, and lead author of the study, said the study demonstrated that weight loss was associated with increased mortality, more significantly in men than in women, representing There is a need to monitor and investigate the causes of weight loss among seniors.
Why does losing weight increase health risks? Perri Halperin, director of clinical nutrition at Mount Sinai Health System, who was not involved in the study, explained that when you lose weight without deliberately losing weight, you may have underlying health problems, including cancer and dementia, because the body is under the influence of inflammation and hormones, leading to Related to decreased appetite.
Underlying chronic health conditions can also affect appetite, metabolism and eating habits, leading to weight loss in older adults, Halperin said, as can reduced mobility and medication side effects. In addition, weight loss may also be caused by psychological factors, including anxiety.
Halperin said that if seniors notice a decrease in the number on the scale or looser pants that once fitted, they should proactively inform their physician so that further testing or screening can be done.