2023-08-04 17:08:00
Why do we lose weight with age?
From a biological point of view, the aging is the product of the accumulation of a wide range of molecular and cellular damage over time. This leads to a progressive deterioration of physical and mental abilities, an increase in the risk of disease and, finally, death”, points out point-blank the WHO, the World Health Organization (source 1). From this observation, aging might therefore explain a weight problemwhether excessive or insufficient.
“With age, the metabolism weakens and for a host of factors (living environment, eating habits, intensity of physical activity, etc.), some people will lose weight. This weight loss might also result in a loss of fat, muscle and/or bone mass “, explains Dr. Alexandra Dalu, anti-aging doctor. She adds: “Losing pounds as you age is not inevitable, it will really depend on each individual. In short: a 60-year-old person may, for example, note a loss of 10 kilos as they age when another of the same age will have a stable weight (at 5 kilos + / close to their weight at 40 years old).
What can be the causes of weight loss in the elderly?
Biological factors. The physiological changes of aging can impair nutritional status: “As we age, sensory impairments, such as decreased sensation of taste or smellor both, can lead to a decrease in appetite and thirst and therefore sometimes weight loss”, illustrates Dr. Alexandra Dalu.
“The decrease in cognitive functions can limit mobility and affect the ability of elderly people to do their shopping and therefore to prepare balanced meals, but also simply to move around. They will therefore have less appetite due to their less physical activity, ”continues the anti-aging doctor.
“Poor oral health and dental problems can lead to difficulty chewing, inflammation of the gums and a monotonous diet of poor quality can also increase weight loss”, recalls the WHO in its report on aging and health (source 2).
Beyond biological alterations, aging may also be associated with psychosocial and environmental changes, such as isolation, loneliness (loss of more loved ones due to advanced age), depression or lack of financial resources, which can also have significant impacts on people’s nutrition and weight loss.
What are the main health risks of losing weight with age?
The thinness in people of a certain age can weaken the metabolism at different levels. “One of the main risks is osteoporosis, bone disease characterized by deterioration of bone tissue and sarcopenia which is characterized by a decrease in muscle mass and strength beyond a certain threshold,” says Dr. Alexandra Dalu, specialist in morphological and anti-aging medicine.
These factors then risk weakening the elderly who will risk overbalance and falling, even fracturing part of the body. With the sometimes disastrous consequences that can result from it: depression because impossibility or difficulty in moving (going to the garden, shopping, etc.).
Elderly people in a state of thinness may also be more sensitive to dehydration, hypothermia and hyperthermia (source 2).
Is it possible to reverse the weight curve with age and how?
Good news ! In many situations, it is never too late to reverse the trends and this is of course also true in weight management. “Provided of course that you take charge with courage: at this age, a simple desire to want to correct weight problems will not be enough. Moreover, it will be advisable to consider multidimensional care,” says Dr. Alexandra Dalu. To know :
Adapted diet : “Some elderly people think that having a slice of butter for breakfast accompanied by a tea is enough to cover their energy needs in relation to their daily expenses, but not for lack of creating certain nutrient deficiencies (vitamins, minerals, etc.) “Warns Dr. Alexandra Dalu. If there is no appetite, an energy and protein intake by taking oral nutritional supplements (ONC) may then be offered. These can be found in pharmacies, in the form of drinks, yoghurts or soups with various flavors (salty, sweet). Please note that NOCs should not replace meals and should be taken as a snack and outside of meals and preferably on medical prescription.
Increase physical activity. Far from it the idea of starting to run the marathon 60 years ago, no! “However, age, unless there are medical contraindications, should not be a hindrance to getting moving,” insists Dr. Alexandra Dalu, anti-aging doctor And there is no shortage of ideas to move on stock ; starting with reducing the time spent in front of the television, getting up more on the pretext of going to put away a book or moving an object, for example. But also, (re)start taking the stairs instead of the elevator. What if you’re afraid of falling? “Take the steps of your residence or public spaces, these are places of passage in case you fall,” reassures Dr. Alexandra Dalu.
Not to mention, thepet ! Ideal for empowering yourself and forcing yourself to take it out several times a day (if it’s a dog). ” In addition to take the air, the walk will allow you to maintain muscle strength”, specifies Dr. Alexandra Dalu who adds: “In case of difficulty, do not hesitate to use a cane or a walker, they are made for that. »
If necessary, do not hesitate to seek the advice of your attending physician, who can assess your physical condition and guide the appropriate type of physical activity.
Finally, to get help, the elderly can also count on the support from social workersthe departmental center for people with disabilities (MDPH) (whose mission is to inform and support people under 60), the municipal center for social action (CCAS) or the ADMR in rural areas.
What should I do if the state of thinness worsens (extreme malnutrition)?
“In the event of failure of dietary measures and overall health care, the attending physician may, if he deems undernutrition dangerous, place the patient in a hospital setting for the establishment of enteral nutrition (thanks to to a probe placed in the stomach or the small intestine) and if this is impossible, parenteral nutrition by administration of nutritive solutions by venous route might be envisaged ”recalls the site of Public Health (source 3).
How to prevent and diagnose weight loss with age?
In order not to arrive at this situation of extreme undernutrition, it will therefore be essential to prevent thinness and to diagnose it as soon as possible. To do this, and although the eye can in many cases note that a person is losing weight (clothing too loose, thinness of the limbs, loss of energy, etc.), in-depth evaluations exist to assess the metabolism.
Anthropometric measurement: “It is the universally applicable and non-invasive technique, which makes it possible to evaluate the corpulence, the proportions and the composition of the human body in order to prevent in adults over 60, for example, underweight. “Anthropometric measurements are a reflection of nutritional and health status, but can also be used to predict the aptitudes, health status and survival of the patient”, recalls the WHO in an online report (source 4).
Blood tests : they will be useful for checking hormone levels during menopause and andropause, among others. Hormones that can influence weight management.
Diet assessment: the general practitioner will be able to assess the patient’s weight using a test. And if there are various available on the internet, it will still be advisable to do so with your doctor who will be able to draw a medical diagnosis, taking into account the size, age, genetics, the medical history or the level of physical activity of the patient.
How to detect malnutrition in the elderly, over 70 years old?
The diagnosis of undernutrition beyond the age of 70 requires the presence of at least: 1 phenotypic criterion and 1 etiological criterion.
Phenotypic criteria:
- weight loss ≥5% in 1 month or ≥ 10% in 6 months or ≥10% compared to the usual weight before the onset of the disease;
- IMC
- confirmed sarcopenia (source 4)
The etiological criteria (1 single criterion is sufficient):
- reduction in food intake ≥ 50% for more than 1 week, or any reduction in intake for more than 2 weeks compared to usual food consumption or protein-energy requirements;
- reduced absorption (malabsorption/poor digestion);
- pathological situation (with or without inflammatory syndrome)
Ultimately: since weight loss is most often multifactorial in the elderly, it is strongly advised to take medical advice if signs of thinness appear.
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