How weight changes affect older adults' lifespan
Effect of Body Weight, Waist Circumference and Their Changes on Mortality: A 10-Year Population-Based Study
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Weight loss is linked to higher mortality risk in older adults
Most people believe weight loss is always beneficial for health, but this study shows it's actually associated with higher death risk in older adults.
Practical Takeaways
Older adults should consult a doctor before starting weight loss programs, as unintentional weight loss may indicate underlying health issues
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Weight loss is linked to higher mortality risk in older adults
Most people believe weight loss is always beneficial for health, but this study shows it's actually associated with higher death risk in older adults.
Practical Takeaways
Older adults should consult a doctor before starting weight loss programs, as unintentional weight loss may indicate underlying health issues
Publication
Journal
The journal of nutrition, health & aging
Year
2018
Authors
W.-J. Lee, L.-N. Peng, C. Loh, Liang‐Kung Chen
Related Content
Claims (6)
Increased waist circumference is associated with a higher risk of metabolic disease and mortality, independent of total body weight.
Older adults who lose more than 5% of their body weight are more likely to die within the study period compared to those whose weight stays stable.
Older adults who lose more than 5% of their waist size are more likely to die within the study period compared to those whose waist size stays stable.
For older adults, both very small and very large changes in waist size are linked to higher death rates, forming a U-shaped pattern.
Being underweight, overweight, or obese at the start of the study didn't significantly change the risk of death compared to having a normal weight in older adults.