Addressing Obesity in Aging Patients

Abstract

Obesity in older adults affects not only morbidity and mortality but, importantly, quality of life and the risk of institutionalization. Weight loss interventions can effectively lead to improved physical function. Diet-alone interventions can detrimentally affect muscle and bone physiology and, without interventions to affect these elements, can lead to adverse outcomes. Understanding social and nutritional issues facing older adults is of utmost importance to primary care providers. This article will also discuss the insufficient evidence related to pharmacotherapy as well as providing an overview of using physiologic rather than chronologic age for identifying suitable candidates for bariatric surgery.

ESPEN guideline on clinical nutrition and hydration in geriatrics

“…Obesity, especially severe obesity (BMI !35 kg/m 2 ), increases metabolic and cardiovascular risk as well as the risk of mobility limitations and frailty in older persons [248,255,256], particularly when marked muscle loss has already occurred [273]. Current expert recommendations regarding weight reduction in older people primarily refer to cases of obesity that are associated with comorbidities and obesity-related adverse health effects [252,255,256,272].…”

Effects of Moderate Combined Resistance- and Aerobic-Exercise for 12 Weeks on Body Composition, Cardiometabolic Risk Factors, Blood Pressure, Arterial Stiffness, and Physical Functions, among Obese Older Men: A Pilot Study

“…Specifically, 8.5% of the population worldwide is over the age of 65 years, and the older population is expected to grow by 17% by 2050 [ 1 ]. Advancing age leads to functional impairments such as an inability to transfer, walk, or dress [ 2 ]. Meanwhile, it is commonly known that obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases or metabolic disorders [ 3 ].…”

A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Body Composition Among Healthy Elderly From the European NU-AGE Study: Sex and Country Specific Features

“…Another possible explanation is the pleiotropy of adiposity. Certainly excess adiposity is a risk factor for a great number of pathologies, however, it could be that a certain degree of adiposity may be required for longevity ( Batsis and Zagaria, 2018 ), and in this perspective it may make sense to find better functional parameters associated with adiposity in elderly people. Moreover, although fall risk is increased, risk of hip fractures related to obesity is lower in certain populations ( Tang et al, 2013 ; Fassio et al, 2018 ).…”