[Key points of this article] Among the elderly over 65 years old in Taiwan, as many as half of the population is overweight + obesity. The problem of obesity in the elderly deserves attention. Global obesity is one of the public health issues. Obesity has been proven to increase the risk of hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Therefore, obesity prevention is listed as an important national health promotion issue. Not all elderly people need to lose weight, and the elderly with BMI<27 who have little weight change do not need to lose weight. The elderly can lose weight through proper exercise. Xu Guanghan, a good weight loss doctor, has relevant suggestions.
–by Notion AI
In addition to increasing the risk of disease, metabolic dysfunction, and osteoporosis, obesity in the elderly is more likely to cause dementia and decreased mobility. But not all elderly people need to lose weight. Elderly people with BMI<27 and little change in weight do not need to lose weight.
Obesity is one of the most important public health issues in the world. Studies have confirmed that excess body fat accumulation will increase the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and some cancers. Therefore, the National Health Service of the Ministry of Health and Welfare also listed obesity prevention and control as an important national health promotion issue.
According to the Taiwan National Nutrition and Health Survey from 2017 to 2020, as many as half of the population over 65 years old are overweight and obese (61.0% of those aged 65 to 74 are overweight and obese, and 53.9% of those over 75 are overweight and obese). With the development of an aging society, the problem of obesity in the elderly deserves attention. What is the reason for obesity in the elderly? If the elderly are obese, what exercise can they do to lose weight? Xu Guanghan, a good weight loss doctor, tells you:
＊Underweight: BMI<18.5, normal: 18.5≦BMI<24, overweight: 24≦BMI<27, obese: 27≦BMI
What are the common causes of obesity in the elderly?
1. Decreased basal metabolic rate in aging
two,Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and medical disease incidence rates are higher than normal
3. Most elderly people engage in more static activities or live a simple life, which reduces energy consumption
4. Some drugs: such as hypoglycemic drugs may have side effects of weight gain
5. Other factors such as behavior, environment or disease
Elders with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and medical diseases are more likely to become obese than normal people. Because of the above reasons, in addition to increasing the risk of disease, metabolic dysfunction, and osteoporosis, obesity in the elderly is more likely to cause dementia and decreased mobility. In this way, the physiology and activities of the elderly will relatively affect their lives, and family members will also spend time accompanying them for medical treatment and treatment, which will worry the whole body, mind and soul.
Which older adults need to lose weight?
Not all elderly people need to lose weight. Elderly people with BMI<27 who have little weight change do not need to lose weight. However, for groups with a BMI > 30 or above, and those who have the following problems, it is necessary to pay careful attention to changes in body weight.
1. Patients with cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and three high diseases
2. Patients with joint problems and sleep apnea
Studies have shown that reducing the original body weight by about 5-10% can improve the disease and reduce the inconvenience caused by the disease.
＊The calculation formula of BMI value: BMI=weight (kg)/height 2 (meter 2) For example: a person with 52 kg and a height of 155 cm, then the BMI is: 52 (kg)/1.552 (meter 2) = 21.6
Elderly “sarcopenia” is also a risk factor
The National Institutes of Health study shows that the ratio of BMI to death risk is low, and it can be found that the lightest elderly people have the highest death risk.
．BMI less than 22: 5.73. Between 22-24: 4.02. Between 24-27: 3.27. Greater than 27: 3.69
The research team further divided the body muscle mass of the elderly into four equal parts. As a result, the group with the lowest muscle mass had the highest mortality rate. That is to say, the elderly with the lowest muscle mass will double the risk of death compared with other elderly people. Therefore, if you want to have a healthy old age, “too little muscle mass” is also a point that needs attention.
Although studies have shown that obesity does not have a higher risk of death for the elderly, moderate weight loss can effectively reduce the load on joints and even reduce the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
What exercises can seniors do to lose weight?
Many people lose weight by eating less, but most of the loss is muscle. Moreover, the body’s muscle mass will gradually lose with age. If the elderly use this method to lose weight, it may accelerate sarcopenia and increase the risk of death. Therefore, when the elderly lose weight, “gaining muscle and reducing fat” should be the primary goal. If you want to build muscle, the National Health Administration recommends that you take into account both cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle mass, and that the elderly should combine “aerobic exercise and muscle strength training” to lose weight.
If the elderly lose weight by eating less, it may accelerate sarcopenia and increase the risk of death. Therefore, when the elderly lose weight, “gaining muscle and reducing fat” should be the primary goal.
．Aerobic exercise (walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, etc.): Effectively increase cardiorespiratory fitness and maintain body weight
．strength training(Core muscle group training and resistance exercise, etc.): Improve metabolic diseases, prevent falls, improve physical fitness, muscle strength, and muscle mass
In addition, according to the data from the National Health Administration, some studies have confirmed that Qigong, Tai Chi and other items are helpful for the prevention of falls and metabolic diseases in the elderly, so these are also exercises that can be done regularly.