While it may be tempting to rejoice in one’s personal weight loss, this is not always a good idea.
According to a recent study, older persons who lose weight are more likely to die young or have illnesses that shorten their lives.
However, the study, which was released on Monday in JAMA Network Open, found no link between weight gain and death.
According to lead study author Dr. Monira Hussain, a clinical epidemiologist and senior research fellow in public health and preventative medicine at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, medical professionals have known to be concerned when older people with health conditions lose weight, but researchers have not fully understood the impact of weight change on healthy older adults.
The study comprised around 2,000 seniors in the United States and almost 17,000 persons in Australia who were at least 70 years old. Each participant in the study, which took place between 2010 and 2014, reportedly had their weight checked each year.
“Our study demonstrated that even a 5% weight loss increases mortality risk, especially in older males,” claimed Hussain.
She said that among elderly persons, there was no connection between weight gain and health.
The association was found across starting weights, according to Perri Halperin, the clinical nutrition director for the Mount Sinai Health System, showing that people who are classified as obese medically also have a higher risk of losing weight. Halperin didn’t take part in the investigation.
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Additional medical conditions
Initial health issues could be considered in the investigation. According to Hussain, those suffering from conditions like cardiovascular disease, dementia, physical incapacity, or chronic ailments were excluded.
In an email, Halperin noted that the study excluded people who had recently been hospitalized, which was significant because acute diseases commonly induce weight loss after hospitalisation.
According to Hussain, the study was unable to determine whether the subjects’ weight loss was unintentional or voluntary.
According to Haperin, no questions were addressed concerning changes in activity level or food quality between the baseline study visit and subsequent research visits, therefore we lack information on how such variables may have affected the outcomes stated Haperin.
Why losing weight could be dangerous
Because weight loss may indicate underlying problems, it could be a risk factor for mortality.
Weight loss is “often linked to reduced appetite influenced by inflammation and hormones,” according to Hussain, and it may be an indication of diseases like cancer and dementia.
By affecting appetite, metabolism, and eating habits, underlying chronic health issues can also cause weight loss in older persons, according to Halperin. Weight might also be impacted by medical side effects and mobility concerns.
Halperin claims that variations in weight might sometimes be a sign of a lifestyle issue.
“A key risk factor for weight loss in older people is social isolation. Additional concerns include financial constraints, inconvenience, and misery, she said.
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Halperin stresses the importance of remembering that in studies like this, correlation does not imply causation. Although there was a link between weight loss and mortality, this does not necessarily mean that the decrease of weight contributed to the deaths.
“It’s also important to note that the opposite cannot be extrapolated or implied,” she wrote in an email, “i.e., reducing weight would not necessarily increase your mortality risk. Always discuss changes in your weight with your doctor or another qualified medical professional.
According to Halperin, the lesson here is for senior persons to monitor weight changes.
Bring it up with your doctor for potential further screening or testing if they see a drop in the scale reading (weight loss) or even trousers that were once tight fitting looser, she advised. (decreased waist circumference). She continued by saying that the medical industry should follow the advice. It is important for doctors and other medical professionals to be aware that further research is required in the area of weight fluctuations.
