Nutritional disorders in the elderly.
Undernutrition is common in older people and has serious adverse effects. Weight loss and low body weight are key markers. Correctable causes, such as depression, are common and should be sought. Structured efforts to encourage food intake, together with nutritional supplements, often are of benefit. It is hoped that a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms will lead to targeted treatments. Overweight and obesity also are common in older people, and are associated with morbidity and impaired function. It is probably appropriate to recommend weight loss to obese older people who have associated comorbidities, particularly reduced mobility, but seldom, if ever, for increased weight alone.
Chapman
Ian McPhee
IM
Department of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Level 6, Eleanor Harrald Building, Royal Adelaide Hospital, North Terrace, 5000 Adelaide, Australia. ian.chapman@adelaide.edu.au
D000368:Aged; D000855:Anorexia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D001361:Avitaminosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D001823:Body Composition; D015984:Causality; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D015431:Weight Loss