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Unexplained weight loss has many causes, medical and nonmedical. Often, a combination of things results in a general decline in your health and a related weight loss. Most often, medical disorders that cause weight loss include other symptoms.
Maintaining a healthy weight is essential for good health and independence as you age. Unintentional weight loss is a big risk factor in older adults for multiple reasons.
Unintentional weight loss in adults older than 65 years is generally defined as a 5% or greater loss of body weight in a six- to 12-month period and is associated with increased morbidity and...
Older adults: Research suggests 15% to 20% of adults 65 years and older experience unexplained weight loss. Smoking and having less body fat may increase the likelihood.
Unintentional weight loss means losing weight without dieting or otherwise deliberately trying to slim down. This often goes hand-in-hand with malnutrition in aging. Now, they aren’t quite the same thing: it’s possible to be malnourished without obviously losing weight.
Unexplained weight loss is concerning if you lose more than 5% of your body weight or 10 pounds over six to 12 months, especially if you’re over age 65. Most people gain and lose a little weight from day to day, but these changes tend to stay within a five-pound range.
What follows is a list of diverse causes that may be at the root of unintentional weight loss in seniors: Medical Causes. Dementia. As dementia progresses, challenges with mobility, chewing, memory, confusion, suspicion, and appetite decline can lead to weight loss. Gastrointestinal disorders.
Weight loss in older adults can sometimes signal an underlying health issue. It’s important to have unexplained weight loss evaluated to investigate the cause and make sure there isn’t a bigger problem that needs attention.
A little weight loss can sometimes help with conditions that are common in older adults — like diabetes and high blood pressure. But as people age, a healthy weight is higher than it is for younger people. Too much weight loss can bring risks like fragile bones and a weak immune system.
Elderly patients with unintentional weight loss are at higher risk for infection, depression and death. The leading causes of involuntary weight loss are depression (especially in...