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January 2015 | Read this issue and more at www.healthandwellnessmagazine.net |
“You’ve lost weight again this
month,” said the doctor to this 81 year
old patient.
Sudden unintentional weight loss
is sometimes a cause for concern. Dr.
Grace Brooke Huffman is the Associate
Medical Director of D.C.’s Montgomery
Hospice. In her article, “Evaluating and
Treating Unintentional Weight Loss
in the Elderly,” she warns that a senior
who loses weight suddenly is at greater
risk of developing other conditions.
Loss of appetite, less of a sense of taste
and smell may contribute. Decreased
mobility, depression, and financial difficulties, all common in old age, may be
a cause of sudden weight loss.
One reason this weight loss is of
concern is that muscle wasting happens quickly, leaving the person in a
weakened, debilitated state of health.
Sometimes weight loss may come from
certain health conditions themselves,
such as cancer, hyperthyroidism and
Alzheimer’s disease. Certain medications do the same.
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The consequences of losing a significant amount of weight include an
increase in mortality rate. Dr. Huffman
says, “There is a strong connection
between the quality of life and quick
unintentional weight loss. Underweight
individuals are at even greater risk of
death due to weight loss.”
When a family member is aged and
lives alone, it is good for a relative to
take an interest and make observations
regarding how that senior is doing.
Some measures to employ with an
elderly relative include:
1. Monitor weight on a regular basis.
One thing that can be done is
to take a photo periodically and
compare, you can actually see any
weight changes.
2. Look in the senior’s refrigerator
and see what they have on hand.
Do they have fresh food or is the
food past the edible range?
3. Go to the grocery store with them
and see what their buying habits
are, what foods interest them, do
they eat healthy?
4. Ask the person directly if they are
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